GOD who at sundry times, and in divers manners spake in time [...] past to the fathers by the Prophets, hath in these last dayes spo­ken unto us by his Son. This Book, wherein we finde ou [...] Text, it hath this peculiar unto it, that it bears the Style and Inscription of this great Prophet, the Lord Jesus Christ himself, Chap. 1.1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ. And indeed it bears a very lively impression of his Image (as it were) in the Frontispiece of it, drawn out to the Life by a twofold description of him, in his Person, Office and Work, Chap. 1. ver. 5, 6, 7, 8. & ver. 13, 14, 15, 16— as also through­out the whole Book, respecting both the Matter of it, and the Manne [...] of delivery, in the Mystery and Majesty of it. It hath also this peculiar Eminency and Excellency, that it contains a Systeme, or the Sum of all Gospel Prophesie. It is a Prophetical Revelation of all Mysteries of Divine Dispensation, in the whole Series and Succession of it, in every Age and Generation, and in every state and condition of the Church; respecting both the Propagation of his Kingdome, and the destruction of his Enemies, untill all the whole Mystery of God be finished, and Time shall be no longer, (at least) untill the last and utmost Prophetical Period. It is the last great and general Prophesie, which doth compleat the Canon of Holy Writ, intimated Chap. 22.18. Therefore bl [...]ssed is h [...] that readeth, and they that hear the words of this Prophesie, &c. Chap. 1.3. John, the beloved and bosome Disciple, and last Apostle, is the Minister of this Revelation, Chap. 1. ver. 1. therefore the Dedication of it is from John, unto the Seven Churches in Asia, Chap. 1. v. 4. John to the Seven Churches in Asia. This general or indefinite Dedication, makes way for the particular Inscription of an Epistle unto the several Angels of those Churches, in the 2 d and 3 d Chapters. Our Text lyes in the first of th [...]s [...] [Page 2] Epistles, inscribed, Vnto the Angel of the Church of Ephesus, Chap. 2.1. I shall not detain you with any discourse concerning the Scituation of the City, or Typical Relation of the Church of Ephesus; nor stay upon an Artificial Resolution of the Context, by an Analytical Expo [...]tion of the Epistle; which are vulgar with Expositors. The way to our Text is easie and open: it lyes in that part of the Epistle which is Narrative. The words (as to Mode of expression) they are Monitory, and withall highly Imperative or Commanding. The duty commanded, it is to la­bour (according to direction given) unto a full and through Restitution from that Declension and Defection in Religion, which that Church was fallen into. In order hereunto, three things are proposed in the words, as parts of the work and duty commanded to be done.

1. An awakening sight and sense of their declension and defection; (in these words) Remember from whence thou art fallen. The word Remember here, it imports an awakening, convincing Remembrance: it is often used in Scripture to express a conscience and conviction of sin, Ezek. 16.61, 63. — from whence thou art fallen, or elapsed, slidden, back­slidden; plainly signifying, Backsliding and Apostacy.

2. A penitential Confession of, and humiliation under the sin of their de­cl [...]nsion and defection; in this word, Repent. It signifies Repentance in the proper act of it, which is a sad and solemn recognition of, and refle­ction upon our past evil actions, with Confession and Humiliation.

3. Reformation; in these words, Do the first works: which signifie Reformation in the proper act of it, positive, practical Reformation; — Remember from whence thou art fallen, repent, and do the first works. It is as if our Lord Jesus Christ should have said unto this Angel and Church of Ephesus, Although thou hast been commendable (and I have commended thee) for thy strong and stedfast perseverance, by the great labour of thy Faith and Patience, in the sincere, pure, and powerful Pro­fession of the Gospel, respecting both Doctrine and Worship, with ex­traordinary Zeal against Heresie and Apostacy, Hereticks and Apostates, and that also with extraordinary Courage and Constancy, under many great Temptations, and much and great Tribulation: and although thou hast been extraordinarily beautified and blessed with my Presence, in the exercise of my Kingly and Prophetical Office; though thou hast been Eminent, yea Excellent among the Churches; and although thou dost yet hold up thy Profession in the external Form of it, and dost there­fore still deserve some Commendation: Yet know, O Ephesus, that thou art fallen; thou hast left thy first love, thou hast lost thy first life, thou hast deserted thy first works; thou art not what thou hast bee [...], [Page 3] thou art fallen into a state, frame, and way of backsliding and Apostacy. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and labour to reco­ver thy self speedily from thy declension and defection, and to retrive thy pristine and primitive Profession and practise of Religion, unto its former internal and spiritual Life and Power, from which it is chiefly that thou art fallen, or else I will withdraw my gracious Presence from thee, and come unto thee quickly in my wrath, and devest thee of all thy Priviledges, Church-Order, Ordinances and Administrations, of the Dignity and Beauty, yea of the very Being of a Church, by the Amo­ture of the Candlestick: Remember from whence thou art fallen, &c. The words thus plainly opening themselves unto us, afford us this Do­ctrine.

The Text it self is so good a Doctrine, it doth seem needless to invert the terms of it. It is enough to say, That it is the work and duty of any Church or Churches, which are in the like declining and decaying [...], which this Church of Ephesus was in, to Remember from whence they are fallen, to repent, and to do their first works. It is the present, instant, and most important duty, it is indeed all the work and duty which our Lord Jesus Christ doth commend and propound unto, and press upon this Church in this whole Epistle, and so unto and upon all other Churches in the like state: and he doth propose it plainly and fully in all the parts of it, that they might have a full and distinct understand­ing of it, and direction unto it; that they might be through and effe­ctual in the pursuance and performance of it. He proposeth it also as a most important duty and concernment, as that upon which depended their very Being and Standing as a Candlestick amongst the Candlesticks, as a Church among the Churches. He proposeth it as a work and duty which they had yet great advantage and encouragement to labour in, under the powerful exercise of his Kingly and Prophetical Office; and therefore he represents himself unto this declining Church (for their encouragement) as walking amidst the golden Candlesticks, and holding the Stars in his right hand; that is, in his full and whole Sufficiency to uphold his Church, in its Constitution, and in the pure and powerful Administration both of Doctrine and Worship; and by a powerful and effectual dispensation of his Spirit and Grace, to restore and recover [Page 4] them from their present declension and defection. He also proposeth it as a work and duty requiring present, instant dispatch, which must be quickly done: and he presseth it, upon penalty of Unchurching Judge­ments, and so upon peril of gross, open, total, and final Apostacy, im­plied in the removal of the Candlestick, and finally moving of them hereunto, by a great and most gracious Promise of perseverance in case of obedience, ver. 7. To him that overcometh, I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. Thus you see how full both the Text and the Context are of this Doctrine. And this is also the great work and duty, which God did propound and press by all his Prophets, upon the Church of old, in their declining and decaying state, which for many Ages together they were in. It was Gods great work by the Ministry of those great Prophets, whose Prophesies are re­corded in Scripture, to convince them of their Back slidings and Apo­stacy, and to perswade them to return by Repentance and Reformation. The general word of the Lord by those Prophets, it was Turn, O back­sliding children; Return, O backsliding Israel— Repent, and turn ye; Turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die? &c. Jer. 3.12, 14, 22. & 4.1. & 18.11. Ezek 14.6. & 33.11. Hos. 12.6. & 14.1. It was the great work of those Prophets, to bring back this people unto God: 2 Chron. 24.19. Yet he sent Prophets to them, to bring them again to the Lord. It was the general cry of all the Prophets, Zech. 1.3, 4. Turn ye now unto me, saith the Lord, &c. Be not as your fathers, unto whom the former Prophets cried, Turn ye now— Observe▪ Repentance and Reformation it was the gene­ral cry of the Prophets to that backsliding people: whence it doth ap­pear, that it was their great and main work and duty, to Repent and Re­form. I might further demonstrate, argue, and prove this Doctrine from the suitableness of this work and duty, unto a back-sliding people, (it is the proper work of such a people;) as also from the necessity of it, and from the good and benefit of it, and from all Topicks of Reasons and Arguments: but it being of undeniable, and therefore of unque­stionable verity, I shall take leave (for brevity's sake) to pretermit what might or ought to be spoken for the more full Proof and Explication thereof, and proceed unto Application.

Wherein, I shall apply my self unto the Churches, and unto the Peo­ple of New-England, so far (at least) as they may be spoken unto in one General Assembly; and I shall address my self unto You, as in the Name, so in the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, by this threefold Ex­hortation. (1) Remember from whence thou a [...]t fallen. (2.) Repent. (3.) Do the first works▪ These Epistles, and so these Exhortations, [Page 5] were directed to the Churches: Christ requires and calls for the Atten­tion of the Churches, ver. 7. He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches. I am emboldened therefore to pro­pose and press this general Exhortation, unto and upon the Churches, because the Text, the Doctrine, the Occasion and the Opportunity do lead me unto it; and because I have also thought, that God doth call me unto it, in the Improvement of such a Text, upon such an Occasion, in such an Assembly.

Exhort. I. Remember from whence thou art fallen. Let this be an Awakening Watch-word from our Lord Jesus Christ, unto these slum­bering Churches in this Midnight of deep Security, wherein the gene­rality both of Christians and Churches, are disposing, yea composing of themselves to sleep, by indulging themselves unto carnal rest and ease, shutting their eyes against all awakening discoveries, and stopping their ears against all awakening voices; yea, although it be the voice of their Beloved: as the Spouse, Cant. 5.2, 3. I sleep, but my heart waketh, it is the voice of my Beloved that knocketh— I have put off my coat, how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet, how shall I defile them? Surely an Awakening Watch-word is then most necessary and seasonable; and ne­ver more, then in sleepy and sleeping Times, when Judicial Security seemeth to be both one of the greatest Sins and Plagues of the Times; when God in just Judgement is pouring out of a spirit of deep sleep, and closing the eyes of men, as Isa. 29.10. and giving a spirit of slumber, Rom. 11.8. No doubt but this Church of Ephesus was deeply secure, under her deep declension: Spiritual declension doth incline both Chri­stians and Churches unto Security; whilst the wise Virgins lamps want­ed trimming, and the foolish Virgins lamps were gone out, they all slumbered and slept, Mat. 25.5. as Christians or Churches decline, so they grow secure, and fall asleep. The Church of old, both Israel and Ju­dah, were most prodigiously secure in the depth of their Apostacy: the Prophets did prophesie Peace, and the people did promise themselves peace, untill they had consummated both their Apostacy and Misery, Jer. 4.10. & 6.14. & 8.11. Ezek. 13.10, 16. Truly thus it is (too much) with us, the more sinful we grow, the more secure; the generality of the Generation growing more and more sensless, supine, stupid, sottish in their security. Hence, although we hear all kinde of Awakening Voices, and see many Awakening Sights; though the voice of God doth Cry by his Word, as Zech. 1.4. yea though it doth Roar by his Works, Amos 3.8. yet we are not awakened: Though there be a grievous and general Complaint and Cry of the great & Crying sins of the Times, yea [Page 6] although our sins do testifie against us, unto our very faces, Jer. 14.7. Hos. 5.5. though our own wickedness doth correct us, and our back­slidings reprove us, that we are forced to see and acknowledge, that it is an evil thing and bitter, that we have forsaken the Lord our God, and that his [...]ear is not in us, Jer. 2.19. though we begin to labour and to l [...]nguish under the sad and lamentable eff [...]cts and consequences of our sins; and are sensible, that our transgressions and iniquities are upon us, and that we pine away, and are likely to perish in them, Ezek. 33.10. yea, although we our selves, in our most solemn Addresses unto Heaven, do complain and cry out unto God of our sins, iniquities, Backslidings and Apostacies, and verbally and formally express deep Conviction, yet we are not awakened nor convinced, but sensl [...]ss and secure still: our pub­lick Solemnities performed (by many) but as Solemn Formalities, do lull them to sleep in the deeper Security, Isa. 58.3. Truly, the mo [...]e means of Conviction, the more a secure people are sometimes hardened against Conviction. Security, it is a great hinderance, both unto Repen­tance and Reformation, therefore Christ doth propose this as the first part of the work, Remember from whence thou art fallen. So to the Church of Laodicea, Rev. 3.18. Anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see— (that is) See and be sensible of thy defection. God hath made it the work of divers of his faithful Servants, whom he hath of late sent and set to speak upon this Occasion in this general Assembly, to Awaken, and to Convince, to Plead with us in a way of Conviction, to Cry aloud, not to spare, to lift their voices like a Trumpet, to shew New-England their transgressions, and this people their sins, Isa. 58.2. and surely untill we are thus awakened and convinced, there will be no hope of Reformation.

Exhort. II. Repent. So remember from whence thou art fallen, as to Repent. It must be a P [...]nitential Remembrance, such a remembrance as doth both move, and lead to Repentance. Ezek. 16.61. Then shalt thou remember thy wayes, and be ashamed: ver. 63. That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more, because of thy shame: so Ezek. 6.9. & 20 43. When and where there is such an awakening, convincing Remembrance, there will be Repentance. Surely God ex­pects, and calls for a deep thorough, general Repentance: Repentance in all the parts of i [...], the full exercise of it, the whole work of it, unto all the fruits, effects, and ends of it, expressed in Confession, Contri­tion, Humiliation, Supplication, from a right Spirit of Repentance. God calls for heart-breaking, heart-rendi [...]g Repentance, Jol 2.12. R [...]nd your hearts, and not your garments. God expects to hear New-England [Page 7] (as Ephraim) bemoaning himself, Jer. 31.19. Surely, after I was turned, I repented; after I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh, I was ashamed, yea even confounded. It is impossible that we should Re­form▪ except we thus Repent; for the foundation of the whole wo [...]k of R [...]fo [...]ma [...]ion is [...]aid in Repentance, the work of Reformation is wrought in R [...]p [...]ntance: and th [...]refore our Lord J [...]s [...]s Christ [...]ayes the burthen o [...] a [...] the wo [...]k upon Rep [...]ntance in the Text, Excep [...]t [...]on repent.

Exhort. III. Do the first works. So remember fr [...]m whence thou art fallen, and [...], as to do the fi [...]st works; tha [...] is, Reform. And here c [...]efly [...]yes m [...] p [...]sent business, viz. in pressing this part of the Ex­hortation: And [...] I shall take leave to insist a while upon it, as a suitable and seasonable wo [...]d, because we have been Originally a Re­forming, and a Reformed peo [...]le, a people separated and set apart by God, to be the Subject of a very g [...]eat and glorious Work of Reformation. Reformation hath been the des [...]gn of New-England, and therefore Re­formation it is the Profession of New-England. This work of Refor­mation, it hath been (especially by this Generation) (not onely) much neglected, but even (almost) utterly deserted, by a general def [...]ction and declension, which we are fallen into; so that we are now become a declining, and declined people. There hath been, and there is a general Complaint and Cry for want of Reformation, it is generally confessed and acknowledged, that there is an absolute necessity of a speedy, tho­rough Reformation, and that without it we are an undone peop [...]e. We have in our publ [...]ck Solemnities made many solemn Vows and Promises of Reformation unto God, wherein, we have too much flattered him with our lips, and lied unto him with our tongues, whilst our hearts h [...]ve not been stedfast with him: there is yet therefore an utter, to al [...] neg [...]ect and defect of Reformation; no kinde, no degree of Reformation, as little, and (in some respects) less hope and probab [...]i [...]y th [...]r [...]f, ben [...]ver before: and truly, without speedy Reformation, our defection is likely to prove irreparable, and irrecoverable, sin and sinners growi [...]g every day more and more i [...]corrigible, and incurable, and t [...]e heart of the Gene [...]a [...]ion more and more corrupted with a Spirit of Profaneness and Apostacy, and so bent to backsliding, Hos. 11.7. insomuch that it is too l [...]kely to be a p [...]r [...]etual backsliding. And that which is yet more then all, and most of all pressi [...]g, it is the danger that we are in of being given up justly and judicia [...]y by God, unto a spirit, frame, and way of B [...]ck­sl [...]ding and Apostacy, if we do not speed [...]ly reform, Hos. 4.16. Ephraim back slideth, like a back-sliding heifer — Ephraim is joyned to Idols, let him alone. Psal. 81.11. So he gave them up to their own hearts lusts. D [...]ut. [Page 8] Deut. 32.20. I will hide my face from them; I will see what their end will be: (q d.) I will have no more to do with them in a way of grace and mercy, I will leave them to themselves, to finish their Apostacy, to fill up the measure of their iniquity, I will see what miserable, lament­able end they will bring themselves unto: and truly, if so, then wo un­to us, we shall soon destroy our selves. But yet, God is in mercy wait­ing that he may be gracious, Isa. 30.13. and therefore, that which God i [...] yet calling for, looking for, (yea to speak after the manner of men) that which God is longing for, it is our Reformation, as Jer. 13.27. O Jeru­salem, wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be? These Conside­rations may move our Attention unto this Exhortation. And here I shall take leave to speak unto Reformation in general, and so not onely unto a restitution from our defection, but the progress of the Work of Reformation. God expects not onely that we should do our first works, but that our last works should be more then our first, which was the Com­mendation of the Church of Thyatira, Rev. 2. [...]9. I shall therefore propose some general duties to be laboured in, in order unto Reforma­tion; and endeavour (as God shall help) to suit my Disc [...]urse herein unto the present condition of this people, and these Churches.

First, It should be our labour to get a new Heart and new Spirit. This is the life and spirit of the work of Reformation, Ezek. 18.30, 31. Re­pent, and turn your selves from your transgressions, so iniquity shall not be your ruine— and make you a new heart, and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? When God doth work reforming grace, and re­new his Covenant with his people, upon terms of Reformation, he doth first take away the corrupt, hard, impenitent, unbelieving, backsliding, apostatizing heart, and gives them a new heart, and a new spirit, Jer. 31.33. & 32.39. Ezek. 11.19. & 36.26. The foundation of the work of Reformation, it must be laid in a new heart, because the original of our defection and Apostacy, it is in the heart: and therefore God every­where complaineth of that backsliding people, that they had an uncir­cumcised heart, Jer. 9.26. a whorish heart, Ezek. 6.9. that their heart was set upon their iniquity, Hos. 4.8. Truly, so it is, the very heart of New-England is changed, and exceedingly corrupted with the sins of the Times: there is a Spirit of Profaneness, a Spirit of Pride, a Spirit of Worldliness, a Spirit of Sensuality, a Spirit of Gainsaying and Rebel­lion, a Spirit of Libertinism, a Spirit of Carnality, Formality, Hypo­crisie, and Spiritual Idolatry in the Worship of God. Sinners are spi­rited unto, and with the sins of the Times, those sins are even rooted end grounded in the Spirit of the Generation, as Jer. 17.1. The sin of [Page 9] Judah— it is graven upon the table of their heart, so that there is no hope of Reformation, except we make us a new heart, and a new spirit. And truly this is the reason that we do not reform, that we cannot reform, though we do promise and vow Reformation unto God, Deut. 5.29. This people have w [...]ll said, O that there were such an heart in them▪ (q d.) the great thing which this people want is an heart: Truly, so the great thing which N [...]w-England doth want, it is a new Heart, and a new Spi­rit. Here then we must begin▪ and in order hereunto,

1. All sincere Christians must begin this work of Heart-reformation, by labouring to recover your Souls out of your Spiritual Declensions, in grace, and in the life and power of godliness. This Spiritual Declension, [...]t is in the first, and mo [...]t strict and proper sense, that leaving of our first love, reproved in the Context, and therefore restitution from this Spi­ritu [...]l D [...]clension, it is in the first most strict and proper sense, Doing of our first works, commended in the Text: and therefore sincere Chri­stians are first, and most properly concerned in this duty of doing of their first works. How generally and deeply Christians are thus declined, both their hearts and lives do sadly testifie. It is the great and general complaint of all sensible Christians, O their decayes, and declensions! hence little of the life and activity of grace, hardly enough to evidence the sincerity of it, clearly and comfortably, either to themselves or others; li [...]tle of the life of Obedience, either in duties of Religion or Righteousness; much Carnality, Formality, Hypoc [...]isie in the Worship of God▪ both in publick▪ private, and in sec [...]et, in all their Co [...]ve [...]se and Communion both with God and Saints, their Souls la [...]guishing under a Spiri [...]ual Consumption, a [...]d those things wh [...]ch remain, even ready to die, Rev 3.2. It is true first of Christi [...]ns, the [...]of Churches (in this sense) That there is a universal deadness upon the he [...]rts of Churches, hence great unprofi [...]ableness and unfru [...]tfulness under all Ordinances, sin more unm [...]rtified then ever, their hearts a [...]d lives deepl [...] corrupted with the sins of the Times, and many Christians fallen into a very dan­gerous way of Communion with, and Conformi [...]y unto the wicked World: and all this appearing upon some of those, whose first l [...]fe, love, sincerity, purity▪ and eminency in grace and godliness, was sometimes a Beauty unto these Churches. O how is our gold become dim? and our fine gold changed? Lam. 4.1. How is our silver become dross, and our wine mixed with water? Isa. 1.22. How are Zions Nazarites changed in their visage? Lam. 4.7. How are the faces, the Countenance, the Con­versation of many Christians changed? O Christians, what sh [...]ll we say? what shall we do? what will become of us? yea, what will be­come [Page 10] of Religion in this next succeeding generation? If you live and die under your declensions, as truly many Christians are likely to do, being fallen into such deep security under their declensions, that they are not like to be awakened, untill the Cry be made at Midnight, The Bridegroom cometh, and must bestir themselves very hard to trim their Lamps, in time, to enter in with him. O Christians, It is your Spiritual Declension that is the main root of the degeneracy of this Noble Vine, Jer. 2.21. It is your leaving of your first love, which doth make way for the removal of the Candlestick; your Spiritual declension will lead the way unto, and lay the foundation for, the general and total defection of these Churches in succeeding generations: therefore, as the defection hath been in part begun by your declension; so the work of Reforma­tion it must be begun by your restitution. It is impossible that ever these Churches should be restored unto their first Spiritual prosperity, and flourishing state, unless Christians do first recover their first love, life, sincerity, fervency, purity, activity, eminency in the exercise of grace, and in the performance of duty, and in all practical piety, both in heart and life. O how can you hope to lye down in your Graves with peace and comfort, before you have done what in you lyeth in the Work of Reformation? How can you die in peace, under your Spiritual declen­sions, and thereby leave Religion decaying and dying, and these Chur­ches, and this Generation, your poor Posterity, sinking under a ge­neral and total defection? Sure, in vain, and frustrate will be all your prayers, desires, hopes of a Reformation, except that you Christians do thus begin, and lay the foundation of the work in your own hearts before you die.

2. The work of Heart-reformation, or making of a new heart, consist­eth in Conversion, and Regeneration. This is the most full and proper sense of those words, Ezek. 18.31. Make ye a new heart, and new spirit, for why will ye die? so Ezek. 33.11. Turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die? It is a Call to the unconverted: when God doth restore his people from any deep and general defection, and renew his Covenant with them, he doth promise, and actually pour out abundance of convert­ing grace, and so revive and renew the work of Conversion. So Ezek, 36.26. A new hear [...] will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; I will take the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh: I will put my Spirit within you— Let me be bold to say, If ever these Churches be throughly recovered, it will be, it must be by such a dispensation of converting grace, unto an unconverted genera­tion. It is Unregeneracy, that is the radical and total degeneracy of [Page 11] any generation, whereby it is wholly turned into the degenerate plant of a strange Vine, unto the Lord. Here will be our deepest, and most dangerous defection, and that which will prove inevitably ruining unto these Churches, unless the Lord have mercy upon us. O our unbelief, and disobedience unto the Gospel, our rejection of Christ and his King­dome! It is a most sad and lamentable sign, that these Churches, and Religion, are falling into an irreparable, irrecoverable decay, That there are so many of the generation growing up under the Ministry of the Word, and the improvement of all means of grace, in their Vnregeneracy, under the prevailing power of Spiriritual Apostacy and (as we have cause to fear) under a dreadful dispensation of divine Justice, by Spiri­tual Plagues and Judgements, being justly given up by God, unto a spirit, frame, and way of unprofitableness under a Judicial Ministry, sent to make their heart fat, lest they should be converted, as Isa. 6.10— O it is a fearful word, Lest they should see with their eyes, &c.— and con­vert, and be healed. Observe, there is no help, no healing for any peo­ple, if the wor [...] of Conversion cease amongst them. Truly, it is a mat­ter of very sad Consideration unto us, that the work of Conversion doth fall, and is failing more and more, in many (if not) in most Con­gregations: although we have cause, with thankfulness, to acknow­ledge the Presence and Power of the Spirit of God (so far) with his Mi­nistry, that there is yet some fruit of their labour appearing in the work of Conversion; but alas! not with proportion unto the great increase of the generation. O how rarely do we hear of a sound work of Conversion, held forth with full and clear demonstration of the sin­cerity of it! O how few such Converts are there, as do evidence their Conversion by a powerful, practical Profession of Religion? Multi­tudes there are growing up in their Ignorance, Atheism, Unbelief, and Profaneness, who receive no impression at all by the Word of God; and many others who do receive some degrees of common grace, who yet fall away by Spiritual Apostacy, who prove either vain, profane Professors, or close Hypocrites, or gross Apostates. Truly, unless God in infinite Mercy revive and uphold the work of Conversion, there will be no hope, we shall perish under this our Spiritual Apostacy, which is begun: for if the work of Conversion fail, all the sins of the Times will be multiplied and aggravated; and unconverted sinners will be in just Judgement given up to God, unto the power of those sins, so that our sins will become our plagues, and those incurable. O that all un­converted sinners might be moved, to wait earnestly upon God in the improvement of all means for converting grace, and bemoan them­selves [Page 12] before God under their Unregeneracy, Impenitency, Unbelief, then there would be hope in our end, Jer. 31.17, 18. There is hope in thine end, saith the Lord— It follows, I have surely heard Ephraim be­moaning hims [...]lf thus — Turn thou me, and I shall be turned: the onely hope which was, and which yet remains in the End of this people, it ariseth from the reviving of the work of Conversion amongst them▪ this shall be their resurrection. And this seems to be a promise of that glorious dispensation of converting grace, which shall be effectual un­to thei [...] last Conversion: This hope there is yet in our end, that the work of Conversion shall yet have a powerful progress in these Churches; and then we shall return, and revive as the Corn, and grow as the Vine, Hos. 14.7.

Secondly, In order unto the promotion and progress of the Work of Re­formation, we must renew our Covenant with God. By Covenant, here understand the Covenant of Grace, as it is constituted and confirmed, and savingly dispensed in, by, and through the Lord Jesus Christ, as the onely Mediator thereof, together with all the Means, both of the visible and Spi­ritual dispensation thereof, in a way of holy Communion with God and Saints. That Covenant whereby God is our God, and we his People. Now this Covenant, it is alwa [...]es in some degree or other violated and broken, by defection and apostacy; and therefore God cal [...]eth it, Forsaking of his Covenant, Jer. 22 9. Breaking of his Covenant. Jer. 31.32. Trangres­sing of his Covenant, Hos. 6.7. Hence, when God doth reject any people for their Apo [...]acy, he is said to break his Covenant with them, Zech. 11 10. Hence also we reade▪ that the people of God have alwayes per­fected the work of Reformation, by renewing their Covenant with God, 2 Kings 11.17. & 23.3. And when God gives reforming grace, he alwayes renews his Covenant with his people, Jer. 31.33— God singl [...]d out our Fathers, and separated them unto himself, in a more peculia [...] manner as a people with whom he did particularly, & as it were personally renew his Covenant, and more amply and explicitly confirm it, that in renewi [...]g of it, he might more fully reveal it, and restore it unto the mo [...]e pure and primitive way of Administration, according to his own Institution. We cannot say when, where, or with whom, God hath in more special g [...]ace and favour renewed his Covenant, that they might be a special people unto himself, above all people, as Deut. 7.6— Therefore if we hope for the confirmation of Gods Covenant with us, it is our duty, after our defection, to renew it.

1. It is th [...] work of sincere Christians, who are actually and personally in Covenant with God, (who yet have (by the omission of Covenant-duties, [Page 13] and by the commission of Covenant-breaking sins) walked loosely, remissly, unconstantly, unstedfastly, and in all respects very unworthily, under Gods holy Covenant) to renew your Covenant with God, by the renewed stipula­tion of your Souls unto God, under the Soul-binding Obligations of the Co­venant. To renew your Covenant-Engagements unto God, under the renewed sense, experience, power and efficacy of New-Covenant grace, by which you have had the experimental knowledge of Gods Covenant, in the saving Mystery and Sufficiency of it, as a Covenant of Life, as in Psal. 25.14. The secret of the Lord is with those that fear him, and he will shew them his Covenant, and whereby God doth put his Covenant, write his Covenant in your hearts, Jer, 31.33.— Thus renew your Co­venant by Faith, with an holy resolution, to cleave unto God fully and firmly, to walk with God closely and constantly, in his holy Covenant, with fear and reverence, holily, humbly, chearfully, joyfully, thank­fully, faithfully, and fruitfully, in a way of Communion, with full and abunda [...] satisfactio [...] in your Interest in, and enjoyment of God as a [...]; as David, 2 Sam. 23.5. For this is all my salvation, [...]. O Christians, it is your work to uphold Gods Cove­nant [...], spirit and power of it, and unto all the spiritual and sa­ving ends of it, as a Covenant of life, in these Churches.

2. It is the duty of all these who are not yet savingly in Covenant with God, [...], p [...]r [...]nally, and professedly to take hold upon the Covenant. Gods Covenant, it must be thus renewed with his Church, in every Age of it, in order unto the continuation and succession of it, from generation to generation. And thus to renew the Covenant, is the proper work of this Generation, of those who are the Children of the Covenant▪ that is, to lay hold upon the Covenant, by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, as the onely Mediator of the Covenant; and in God through Jesus Christ, as a God in Covenant with you: and so by giving up your selves unto God, under the Bond of his Covenant, to walk with him, and to live unto him, in a way of Faith, and Gospel-obedience, as his Cove­nant people. Thus to lay hold on Gods Covenant, and actually, per­sonally, and professedly to Enter into Covenant with God, is the Founda­tion of your being and standing before God as his people, and indeed of you [...] whole Religion. O how many be there of this Generation, growing, and grown up in these Churches, under the visible dispensa­tion of the Covenant, who do rest, and trust, and boast in their visible Covenant relation, and all the while live without saving Covenant-rela­tion unto God? Yea, how do they profane, pollute, neglect, reject, contemn Gods holy Covenant, as profane Esau did, Gen. 25.32. What [Page 14] profit shall this Birthright do me?— Thus Esau despised his Birthright. Know then, all you who are the Children of the Covenant, that it is by your taking hold upon the Covenant, that the Covenant is established and confirmed unto you as your Covenant, and your Interest, in the Covenant asserted. For, whatever your visible right and interest unto, and in the Covenant may be, and whatever your Confidences may be, yet if you do pollute, profane, neglect, reject, despise, contemn Gods Covenant, and not lay hold upon it, God will certainly take away his Covenant from you: Gods Covenant will certainly fall unto such a Ge­neration, and then these Churches will fall to the ground. If you should so reject Gods Covenant, and cast off Gods Covenant. God would re­ject and cast off you, as altogether unworthy of his Covenant, and of the blessings of it, and say of you, as in Psal. 50.16— What hast thou to do to declare my Statutes, or that thou shouldst take my Coven [...]nt into thy mouth? You ought highly to prize and esteem your visible right and [...] ­terest unto, and in the Covenant, hold it, assert it as an inestimable Pri­viledge: but O take heed of abusing of it unto c [...]rnal Confidence, and of resting in it; and take heed of sl [...]ghting and neglecting of it. You are the Children of the Covenant; but yet think not to say within your selves, We have Abraham to our father, for God is able of the very stones to raise up Children unto Abraham. And the Ax will be laid to the root of the tree, and every tree, &c. Mat. 3.9, 10. You are the Chil­dren of the Kingdome; but remember, that the Children of the Kingdome may be cast out, and that will cause weeping, wailing▪ and gnashing of teeth, Mat. 8.12. It is by laying hold upon Gods Covenant, that we do lay hold upon God himself. We may fear, (and that justly) that God will depart from us: and the great enquiry is, How we may keep God with us? Surely it lyes much, yea most, and almost onely in you, to retain the gracious Presence of God in these Churches, by tak [...]ng hold upon him by his Covenant. If you reject the Covenant, you reject God, and put him away from you: God will be gone, and testifie a­gainst you, as in Psal. 81.11. but my people would have none of me. And truly if God depart from, and reject you, there will be no p [...]ace found for Repentance, though you may seek it carefully with tears, as Esau did, when it was too late, Heb. 12.17. If you should go on generally and totally to neglect and reject Gods Covenant, God will at last break the staves of Beauty and Bands; that is, break his Covenant, and [...]e­move it utterly from us, as Zech. 11.10 11. God hath not ye [...] done it, he hath not yet disowned us: but yet let me say, God hath not y [...]t vi­sibly and signally owned us, by renewing and confirming his Covenant [Page 15] with us, in such a way of special grace and favour, as he did with our Fathers, because we have not so owned him, we are not yet so establish­ed in our standing under the Covenant, as they were. It is yet doubtful what God will do with this poor Generation, onely God is yet waiting upon us, and proving and trying of us, to see whether we will take hold up­on his Covenant, and upon him [...]elf by his Covenant, yea or no; and up [...]n this Point will turn the weal or wo of this pr [...]sent, and of succeeding Generations. O that we understood how much we are concerned, thus to renew our Co [...]enan [...] with God!

Thirdly, Do the fi [...]st works in all things pertaining to the Worship of God. After we have made us a new Heart, and renewed our Covenant, our next g [...]eat work in a way of Reformation, it is to recover the Wor­ship of God from those d [...]cayes which it is fallen in [...]o. The great work of Reformation in the Church of old, it was much, and most about the Worsh [...]p of God, which is most properly Church-Reformation: and here our main work is, to recover our selves from that decay w [...]ich we are fallen into, resp [...]cting the internal, spiritual power and purity of Worship.

1. We must labour to recover our first love to the Worship of God, both Moral and Instituted Worship: all duties of Worsh [...]p, and all Wayes, Means, Ordinances of Worship. It was a very high esteem of, and dear love unto, and delight in the Worship and Ordinances of God, whereby our Fathers were first allured, and moved to follow God into this Wilderness. O the first love of New-Englands first Espousals, the kindness of her youth, when she first followed God into this Land, meerly, and onely out of love unto, and delight in his Worship and Or­dinances! God remembers it, as Jer. 2.2. And truly, we ought to re­member it also, with shame and confusion of face, under a sense of our loss of that love, and our (too much) sl [...]ghting, neglect [...]g and despising the Worship and Ordinances of God. O this is the or [...]ginal of all our decayes in the Worsh [...]p of God: the he [...]rt of the Genera [...]ion, the heart of New-England is much gone from the Worship a [...]d Ordinances of God; though we pretend and profess much zeal and love, yet our heart b [...]gins to be far removed from h [...]m. Isa. 29 13. Forasmuch as this people draw near to me with their mouth, and do honour me with th [...]ir lips▪ but h [...]ve removed their heart far from me. Ezek. 33.31. For with their mouth th [...]y shew much love, but th [...]ir heart goeth aft [...]r their covetous­ness. O the heart of New-England is go [...]e much from the Worsh [...]p of God, after the World, yea truly, Christians themselves are much fallen in their love, esteem, and delight of, and in the Worship of God. O [Page 16] then let us labour to recover our first love, and to set our hearts to the Worship and Ordinances of God, Deut. 32 46. Set your he [...]rts unto all these things which I command you, for it is not a vain thing for you, for it is your li [...]e. Our very hearts and Souls must be set upon, and engaged unto the Worship of God, as a very dear and precious Interest, so as to prefer it above our chief joy, Psal. 137.6. O the luke-warmness of the love of the generality of Worshippers, to the Worship of God, is an evident sign of our declension therein.

2. We must labour to recover our first Zeal for the House of God, in ke [...]p­ing, upholding, and maintaining the Worship and Ordinances of God. Cleave to them, and keep them up, by a lively, constant, stedfast, sincere and holy Profession, by an humble, professed▪ practical subj [...]ction of your very Souls unto them; by a constant, diligent, religious, and profitable At­tention upon them, and improvement of them with intire love, peace and union, in a way of pure and holy Communion. Labour also to uphold the Worship and Ordinances of God, by teaching of them dili­gently to your Children, Deut. 6.7. Train up your Children in the House of God, unto the Worship of God, that they may be prepared to up­hold the Worship and Ordinances of God in their places, in their gene­ration. It hath been heretofore the work of New-England, to build the House of God, to set up the Worship and Ordinances of God: but now (alas!) it is (too much) our work, to pull down the House, Wor­ship, and Ordinances of God. Most of the sins of the Times, and of the generation, have a strong and direct tendency thereunto. We are sinning down, and sinning away the Worship and Ordinances of God; especially by our Pride, Wantonness, carnal Confidence in our visible Liberties and Priviledges, carnal ease and rest. Carnality, Formality, Hypocrisie, Spiritual Idolatry in the Worship of God, our manifold both gross and more spiritual Profanations and Pollutions of the House, Worship and Ordinances of God. O these evils growing, and prevail­ing amongst us, and many of the most notorious and scandalous sins of the Times getting into Churches, and corrup [...]ing of Churches, do sadly signifie, at least great danger of the downfall of the House, Worship, and Ordinances of God, Jer. 7.10, 12. But that which is yet most sadly signal it is, that there is not likely to be a people fit to uphold such pure Churches, Worship and Ordinances, (at least) not in the internal, spi­ritual power and purity of them. If we do consider how much both Civil and Religious Education is neglected, and if we look upon the sad face of the Rising generation, and see how much of Ignorance, A­theism, Profaneness, Disobedience, Rebellion and I [...]religion doth already [Page 17] appear in the Countenance of it; what an ungracious, irreligious gene­ration there is likely to arise among us, unless God in infinite mercy work a great and wonderful change, our hearts may well tremble to think what will become of the Worship and Ordinances of God in the next Age. Many there are hopeful; but alas! how few, in comparison with the Numbers of this numerous generation. Here is a second gene­ration arisen, and a third and fourth generation arising apace, and truly we have cause to fear, that every generation will be less hopefull then other, untill at last, that wofull Saying be verified of us, which is spo­ken Judg. 2.10. And there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord. O unless God work graciously to save these degenerating generations, there will be small hope of the long continuance of the pure Worship and Ordinances of God here: the Worship of God and Re­ligion, will either revive and live, or else utterly decay and die, with the Rising Generations. Unto this we may further adde, the graduall re­moves of the Glory, the disappearances of the Divine Presence, the depar­tures of God from his own House; a sad sign that our House will be e're long left unto us desolate. O how much then are we concerned to labour (as much as in us lyeth) by all means to uphold and maintain the Worship and Ordinances of God in their spiritual power and purity, least the Glory should depart from this Israel, and the Light of the Gospel be again utterly extinguished in this Western World.

3. We must uphold and maintain our first love unto, and zeal for the external purity (which through the grace of God is yet continued unto us) in the Worship of God. The voice of Christ unto these New-England Churches, is as unto the Church of Thyatira, Rev. 2.25. That which thou hast already, hold fast untill I come. Keep and preserve pure Wor­ship, purity in the Worship of God: preserve the primitive purity of these Churches, according to their Reformed Constitution by Divine Institution; that is, pure instituted Churches: purity in the Constitution of Churches, is the ground-work of pure Worship. Preserve a pure Ministry, constituted exactly according to Gospel-order, respecting all the Offices of it, the Power, the Investiture, the Exercise, the whole Work and Service of it; such a Ministry as our Lord Jesus hath insti­tuted and appointed, Christs Ministry. Preserve these pure Gospel-ordinances, the Ordinances of Christ: Admit of nothing as an Ordi­nance of Worship, but that which Christ hath instituted and ordained; and keep the pure Ordinances of Christ, in the purity of them, in the Gospel simplicity of them, without any corrupt Mixtures i [...], or with any Ordi­nance of Christ, which is ordinarily the first inlet of corrupt Worship [Page 18] into most Reformed Churches. O let us keep and cleave into naked Ordinances, simple Ordinances; the Crystalline purity of the waters of the Sanctuary, which are, as they arise and flow from the Fountain of Divine Institution, clear as Crystal, Rev. 22.1. Preserve purity of Ad­ministration, respecting both the Power, Subject, and Order of Administration. Preserve pure and holy Order in the Administration of every Ordinance, 1 Cor. 14.40. This holy Order is the Beauty of Churches, Col. 2.5. Disorder, it is a general Corruption in Worship; it corrupteth both Churches, Ordinances, and Administrations, and so it makes the House of God like a Den of Thieves, Mat. 20.13— O Chri­stians, this purity of Worship, it hath been the Eminency and Excellency of these Churches, not yet lost as to the external Form of it. It was Gods design and work, not only to set up his Worship in New-England, but to set it up in the purity of it, by a purging, refining Reformation. God did therefore qualifie his Reformers with extraordinary Humility, Sincerity, and holy Zeal for purity of Worship; and made extraordi­nary discoveries of his Minde and Will, concerning his Worship, unto them: He did shew them the Pattern, the Platform (as I may say) of his House, that they might shew it unto us, Ezek. 43.11. O how much then are we engaged to preserve purity of Worship? Purity, it is the Excel­lency of Worship, it is the Beauty and glory of Churches, it is that which maketh Churches shine, as golden Candlesticks; it makes Chur­ches the Beauty of Holiness, Psal. 29.2. & 110.3. It makes the Church to appear in her Spiritual Beauty, in her ornaments, as a Spiritual Bride adorned and trimmed for her heavenly Bridegroom. That purity of Worship, which shall be after the destruction of Antichrist, will be the chief perfection, if not the consummation of the Gospel Dispensation, Rev. 21.2, 3. & 22.11. Then let us be moved to prize and preserve pu­rity of Worship. And to this end, we must subject our selves, our very Souls, freely, fully, & most sincerely, unto the Power, Authority, Rule and Government of Christ, as it is Regularly, Ministerially exercised and administred in his Church, in the Administration of all his Ordinances. Exalt Christ in the Exercise of his Kingly office in his Church: whilst Christ is walking amidst the Churches, holding the Stars in his right hand, they will remain golden Candlesticks. If we do debase Christ, and set up our own wisdomes and wills, in and about the Worship of God, then farewell to p [...]rity of Worship. Again, if we will preserve purity of Worship, we must keep up internal, spiritual purity and holi­ness of heart, in the Worship of God: we must be holy, pure, spiritual Worshippers; we must keep up the Worship of God in the internal▪ [Page 19] spiritual power and purity of it in our hearts; these pure Churches, Worship, and Ordinances, will not, cannot stand, without internal, spi­ritual power and purity. If we do corrupt the Worship and Ordinan­ces of God by our Carnality, Formality, Hypocrisie, and Spiritual Ido­latry, and such like spiritual corruptions, and heart-abominations, in the exercise of it, God will take it from us. It is our Spiritual and Heart-Apostacy, from internal, spiritual power and purity of Worship, that is the deep and most dangerous defection of these Churches in Worship. And although we do yet retain purity of Worship in the ex­ternal Form of it, yet if we do not speedily recover that which we have lost, of the internal, spiritual power and purity of Worship, but persist in our spiritual Apostacy from it, whatever our pretended, professed zeal for visible and external purity of Worship may be, we shall let go, & lose all, pull down all, and bury our selves in our own ruines: New-England will be no more unto God, then any other people, Jer. 9.26. Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab— for all th [...]se Nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are un­circumcised in heart.

4. We must labour to recover our first holy Care and Watchfulness against all Will-worship, corrupt Worship, and Corruptions in Worship. Surely, it hath been heretofore, and almost hereunto, the Commendation of these Churches, that they have been sincerely, fervently, stedfastly zealous against all kindes and degrees of Will-worship. It was the Commenda­tion of this Church of Ephesus, in her declining state, Rev. 2.2, 6— how thou canst not bear them that are evil— Yet this thou hast— God grant that these Churches may never lose this part of their Commenda­tion; that o [...]r Lord Jesus may never have occasion against us, to re­prove us, and threaten us for our carelesness, negligence, sinful Con­nivance and Indulgence in this point, as he did the Church of Pergamus, Rev 2.14. and of Thyatira, ver. 20. — because thou sufferest— It may be we are too secure, and not aware of any danger of corrupt Wor­ship: let me say, The more need we have of this warning; for Will-worship doth ordinarily creep into Reformed Churches whilst they are asleep, gradually, secretly, and insensibly, and grow up unto a consi­derable and formidable height and strength, before it appears, and be­fore Churches are aware: thus the Church of Laod [...]cea deep [...]y corrupt­ed with corrupt Worship, and knew it not, Rev. 3.17. O these Churches in this declining, secure, lukewarm frame, are in great danger of it; let us therefore remember and receive the Apostles Exhortation, Gal. 5.1. Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you [Page 20] free, and be not again intangled with the yoke of bondage.

1. Let us take heed and beware of all dispositions and inclinations unto Will-worship. Watch against the spirit of it: Corrupt Worship gets in first by the spirit and principles of it, and by the spiritual work­ing of it in the heart of a people. It gets first into the heart; a people may uphold the pure Worship of God in the visible and external Form of it, with much seeming love and zeal, and yet their heart deeply cor­rupted with a spirit of Will-worship. When the heart of a people is gone from God and his Worship, it argues their heart is corrupted with a spirit of Will-worship, as in Isa. 29.13— there is a whorish heart, Ezek. 6 9. They have broken me with their whorish heart; there is a spirit of whoredome, Hos. 4.12. How far the heart of New-England is cor­rupted with this spirit of Will-worship, with prae-dispositions and incli­nations thereunto, would (we may fear) too soon and sadly appear, un­der a temptation thereunto.

2. Let us watch against all the wayes and workings of it, even the se­cret, subtile, insensible insinuations and intrusions of it; against all the depths and devices of Satan, working by the darkest and deepest Coun­sels of Hell, to introduce Will-worship into Reformed Churches. We may think our selves secure from it, unless over-born by the over-powering violence of some external Temptation: but believe it, Satan hath divers and various Forms of Will-worship, suited and accommoda­ted to the divers constitutions & conditions of Churches, and the diverse spirit and disposition of people that he hath to deal withall; he hath many Antichrists, 1 Joh. 2.17. there is a divers working of the spirit of Anti­christ, 1 Joh. 4.3. This spirit worketh by the pow [...]r of Satan, in a My­stery of Iniquity, 2 Thess. 2.7. And truly, we have had many Antichrists. It hath been alwayes Satans design, to introduce corrupt Worship into these Churches, under the most specious and spiritual Forms of it, by a direct contrary Extreme unto gross Ceremony and Superstition; the more cause we have to be very watchful, against all such wayes and workings of it.

3. Let us watch against all Temptations unto corrupt Worship, whether more secret, or more open. There are many Temptations thereunto: there is the Temptation of false Teachers, corrupting the Doctrine of Worship, and teaching of Will worship, Mat. 15.9. Teaching for do­ctrines the Commandments of men: Rev. 2.20. — to teach, and to seduce— There is the Temptation of corrupt Communion, temp [...]ing Communion, C [...]l. 2.18. Let no man beguile you, &c. There is the Temptation of Di­vision and Dissention, tending to drive dividing Parties into Extremes, [Page 21] in those matters of Worship which they contend about. 1 Cor. 3.4, 17. The Interest of a Party, it is a very great and strong Temptation: & spi­rit of Division, (especially) when acting and working with a blinde, in­ordinate, preposterous, superstitious Zeal in matters of Worship, and when it is become judicial and incurable, never fails to bring in corrupt Worsh [...]p at one door or another. It is the design of Satan, to bring in Will-worship in the smoke and smother of the fire of Contentions; Di­visions do alwayes corrupt Churches. There is also the Temptation of an undue Toleration, which doth open a way to all the former, and lead into corrupt Compliances in wayes of corrupt Worship, Rev. 2.20. There is also the Temptation of Persecution, and Tribulation— O there are many Temptations unto corrupt Worship, and these Churches have not been without some of these Temptations thereunto; such Tempta­tions are likely to multiply upon us. O what cause have we then to be zealously and wakefully watchful, more especially against such Tempta­tions which are instant, and most urgent and prevalent, and of which we do already begin to see and feel the sad and lamentable effects: and that considering there is such a prae-disposition in the very Spirit and Consti­tution of the Generation, to enter into this Temptation, and such a powerful working of a Spirit of Libertinism, to make way for, and lead into this Temptation; and also that men of corrupt Spirits, Principles and Practises, scandalous, corrupters, and broachers of corrupt Wor­ship, open and professed Enemies unto pure Churches, Worship and Ordinances, are arisen unto so high a degree of bold Presumption a­mong us; and that notwithstanding, they know that Publick Authority is by good and wholsome Laws, and so by Oath, and so by Conscience, and by divers obligations, both Civil and Sacred, engaged against them. I am no Casuist, in the great Case of Toleration, neither shall I under­take either to state, dispute, or decide that Question; what is in it self, or in divers respects or cases, at divers times and places, either Tolerable or Intolerable, in matters disputable: But this I take to be un­deniable, That gross, bold, scandalous, presumptuous tra [...]sgression of any one, or more, or all the Commandments of the First Table, perpe­trated and persisted in with an high hand, notwithstanding all due means of Conviction used, and against clear l [...]ght held forth, and manifestly under the Prevailing Power of a Spirit of Errour, with malignity, in open opposition to the Truth, the true Churches, worship and ordinan­ces of Christ; I say, I take it to be unquestionable, That such trans­gression it is Intolerable. Such I take to be the transgression of those who do grosly and scandalously profane any of the holy Ordinances of [Page 22] Christ, in the Administration of them, presuming to offer strange fire: but much more of those who do both professedly and practically deny most, if not all Fundamentals, both of Faith and Order, and are known and ac­knowledged so to do by all the Reformed Churches in the world; who are in their wayes of corrupt worsh [...]p no less the Synagogue of Satan, then those in Rev. 2.9. Now I say, if such Transgressors and Transgressions should (after the long labour and patience of these Churches, in a strong and stedfast encounter and conflict with this Temptat [...]on) at last prevail to break open a door unto corrupt worship, by Teaching, Seducing, Tempting and Enticing others unto corrupt Communion with them, ac­cording to the Doctrine of Balaam, to cast a st [...]mbling block bef [...]e the people of the Lord, as R [...]v. 2.14. I say, if this should come to pass, our case would be exceeding dangerous▪ especially this coming upon us in our declining and languishing state, when we have lost so much of our first life and love, that we have scarcely strength enough left, to r [...]info [...]ce our former Zeal and Courage in the Encounter, yea, a [...]d at such a time when the Generation is lamentably exposed, by the sins of the Times, (which are all tempting unto a Compliance with such a Temptation) and are (too much) without grace to resist it▪ and in a very unsetled state, as to their standing before God under his Covenant, even standing up­on the dangerous Precipice of a gross Apost [...]cy, the very opportu [...]ity for Satan to overthrow [...]s by such a Temptation. Surely if it be thus, or likely to be thus, then there is very great need of watchfulness a­gainst this Temptation. Neither let it be slighted, or accounted a light thing: for, such Profanations and Abominations, if Indulged, will be­come the sins of the Land, and the guilt and Punishment of them will lye, and fall exceeding heavy upon the Land in a day of wrath: O they will pull down wrath upon this Land, and upon this People; and the filth of them will pollute and defile the Land: it will be such Pollution as will not be purged away without fire, the guilt and filth of corrupt wor­ship, is not purged away without the fire and the fornace. And that which is most Perillous, it is the universal diffusion of the Corruption and Contagion of corrupt worship, by the subtile and insensible infusion and influence of a Spirit of Libertinism: a Spirit and Principle (it i [...]) of all other, most dangerous and destructive unto Pu [...]e Churches, and will soon open a wide door unto all kinde of Abominations: for all false worships, (although they seem, in themselves, to be contrary Ex­tremes) yet they a [...]l agree in this Principle of Libertinism, and will bre [...]k in a [...] that door. It will be in vain for us to hope for, or Promise our selves Security from gross Superstition and Ceremony, if we will leave [Page 23] open this door, or admit of a contrary Extreme in corrupt worship. And truly, if we should give way unto any kinde, it will be just w [...]th God, to give us up Judicially unto all kindes of corrupt worsh [...]p. And let me adde, That a Spirit of Libertinism, if it prevail, will in the end bring in all kinde of Licentiousness and Profaneness; for it is a W [...]mb, big with all kinde of Abominations: for, corruption in Worship▪ and corruption in Manners▪ do alwayes grow and go together. See at large Ezek. 22. beginning. Although Libertinism doth promise much Liberty, yet it bringeth into bondage to Corruption, 2 Pet. 2.19. It doth gender al­together unto bond [...]g [...]. O that these Churches may recover their first Zeal against Libe [...]tinism, both the Spirit, Principle, and Practise of it! and so against al corrup [...] worship, which hath been the common de­struction of Reformed Chu [...]ches, and will most certainly be of these Churches, if it should break in upon us. O let us consider, we have been hitherunto a People extraordinarily Priviledged, with Immunity from corrupt worship; we are yet free from any foraign or forcible Temp [...]ation thereunto; we have yet all Advantages and E [...]courage­ments to withstand it, and to keep it out. If we admit of will-worship, we shall [...]ose all the glorious work of Reformation which our Fathers laboured in, (which consisted chiefly in Separation from corrupt Worship) we shall at once r [...]e the Foundation, and ruine the Superstructure of these Churches, which in the very Constitution were set up, and stand in a way of opposition unto corrupt worship: such Churches will not, cannot bear any degree of corrupt worship. VV [...]ll-worship, it would even destroy our very Religion, and reduce this VVilderness-People unto a kinde of Heathenism. O w [...] unto us, if we admit of will-wor­ship, we shall soon fill up the measure of our sin, and prepare our selves for J [...]dgement, even wrath to the utmost. O wo unto New-England, if ever God be provoked to revenge this quarrel of his Covenant upon us, according to that Threatning, Lev. 26.25. If we admit of will-worship, New-England will become the shame a [...]d scandal of Religion, and of all Reformed Churches, the Reproach of the Christian world, the Scorn and Triumph of Antichrist, and in all respects a most sinful and miserable People. Thus we are to do our first works, in all things pertaining to the worship of God.

4. Labour unto the promotion and progress of the work of Reformation, by the full and faithful discharge of duty to the Children of the Covenant, multiplying and growing up under the Covenant in these Churches▪ un­der how great and general omission of duty towards them, we have cause seriously and sadly to consider, and to lament. Truly, it is much [Page 24] to be feared, that we shall so long doubt and dispute the Interest and Right of such Children, and controvert, and neglect our duty towards them, untill the holy Seed will be wholly corrupted, and the Purity, if not the Constitution of these Churches be greatly endangered, if not lost. It is sad to consider, how much many Churches are already cor­rupted, by the Licentiousness and Profaneness of many, if not most of the Children of the Covenant. Many, if not most, of the sins of Youth (which are many of them some of the most fl [...]gitious sins of the Times) are become the sins of Churches, and the guilt of them doth lye heavi­ly upon Churches, with this heavy aggravation, that they are commit­ted through the neglect of duty towards them, by the due exercise of Discipline. If yet there be any hope in Israel concerning this thing, (as it is spoken of a very difficult Point of Reformation) Ezra 10.2. I say, if there be any hope of Reformation in this matter, it must be by a holy, religious, saving Education of the Children of the Covenant, and that both in Private and in Publick. Doubtless there is an extraordinary obli­gation upon Covenant-Parents, to train up their Children for God; and a great motive it is unto all care, labour and diligence, unto such Re­ligious Family-Education, for such Parents to consider, that their Chil­dren are Children of the Covenant, and in this sense Gods Children, as Ezek. 16.20, 21. and the Children of the Promise, Acts 2.39. and so un­der a special Promise of saving grace and blessing: on the other hand, it is a very sad and lamentable consideration, unto any Religious Parent, to consider, that his Children should (through his neglect of Educa­tion) be instrumental, by their Profaneness and wickedness, to corrupt, pollute and defile the Church of God. O if ever you would do any thing for the recovery, and Propagation of these Churches, labour herein. The corruption of Churches doth begin in Families, and if there be no hope of Family Reformation, there is no hope of Church Refor­mation. It is indeed sad to consider, how many Families are already grown incorrigible and incurable. Labour to imitate faithful Abraham, Gen. 18.19. But that which I chiefly intend, in this Particular, is Publick Education, (if I may so call it) Surely Churches do owe much duty un­to the Children of the Covenant, commonly styled, The Children of the Church: they are doubtless the Subject of the especial care and industry of the Presbytery, to be watched over, warned, instructed, admonished, both Privately and Publickly. Churches also are to own them, and ac­knowledge them, visibly, as they do gradually grow up unto maturity and capacity unto Church-watch and Priviledges. If they be in any wise under the Covenant, and so of the visible Kingdome of Christ, they [Page 25] must needs be under his Ru [...]e and Government, which is no way right­ly administred, but by the regular exercise of Discipline in Instituted Churches. O they have been very unhappy Controversies to these Churches, whereby the vigorous exercise of Discipline unto these, hath been so long demurred and delayed, that very many of them are grown up unto such an height and strength in Profaneness, that they have even broken, and cast off the Yoke of Christs Government in his Church, and are grown incorrigible, and incurable by Discipline. And truly, this neglect is grown so great and general (at least) in some Churches, that there is very little hope of the recovery of the vigorous, effectual exercise of Discipline toward them. So that the current of the cor­ruption of the Generation, is l [...]kely to break in like a flood upon the Churches at this breach, and in short time to carry all before it. It is one of the most fatal signs which is upon these Churches, that this one evil is likely to prove both rui [...]ing and remediless; and is the more sadly signal, because we are no more sensible of it, and no more concerned by our Prayers and Endeavours to Reform it. Let me say, The P [...]og [...]ess of the Covenant, the Propagation of Churches, the Preservation of Churches under their deepest defection, in their lowest condition, it mu [...]t be by the succession of an holy Seed, Isa. 6.13. So the holy Seed shall be the substance thereof. If we Vnchurch them, either Doctrinal­ly or Pract [...]cally, by the general and total neglect of them, and our duty toward them, we do thereby lay the foundation of the Apostacy both of these Chu [...]ches, and of the whole Generation.

5. Labour unto the promotion and progress of the work of Reformation, by a full, faithful, and religious improvement of your Christian Liberty. There is a Spirit and Principle of Liberty in the hearts of all sincere Christians, whom Christ hath made free indeed, Joh. 8.36. Where the Spirit of God is, there is liberty, 2 Cor. 3.17. There is a very large and necessary use and exercise of this Spirit and Principle of Liberty, in our whole Christian Conversation, especially in all our religious converse with God and men, Gal 5.13. For Brethren, ye have been called unto liberty. Our Christian Liberty is regulated most ex [...]ct [...]y and strictly, by Rules and Precepts in the Word of God: there is a compleat directory for the exercise of our Christian Liberty in the Word of God, which is the perfect law of liberty, Jam. 1.25. Our habitual conformity to this Law of Liberty, is the chief Principle of Liberty; and our Practical Subj [...]ction to the Law of Liberty, is the chief Pract [...]se or Exercise of our Liberty. This L [...]berty is alwayes acted under the Power and Au­thority of Divine Tru [...]h, Joh. 8.22. Ye shall know the truth, and the [Page 26] truth shall make you free. Jam. 2.12. So speak, and so do— judged by the law of lib [...]r [...]y. This Christian Liberty doth not give men leave to believe, Profess and Practise what they will, (as Libertines do vainly sup­pose) and from thence plead for a Licentious Liberty of Conscience, and a boundless Latitude both of Profession and Practise in matters of Reli­gion. True Christian Liberty holdeth Conscience fast bound to the Rule: there are Priviledges and Immunities, commonly called Christian L [...]ber­ties, in and about which our Christian Liberty is to be exercised, as the proper Subject of this Liberty. These we must hold, keep, and stand fast in, Gal. 5.1. Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free. And we must be careful to exercise our Christian Liberty in a way of Gospel-order; Liberty and Order are inseparable, in the convers [...] ­tion of a Christian: it is the Liberty of Order, our Liberty is laid out, and limitted by Order; those therefore that do plead for Liberty, unto the subversion of Order, are Libertines, and dangerous Enemies unto Liberty. We must also exercise and improve our Christian Liberty in a way of full subjection unto the Power, Rule and Government of Christ Ministerially exercised in his Church, in the Administration of all his ordinances, as the free Subjects of his Spiritual Kingdome. Those who rise up in a way of opposition unto, or rebellion against the Power of Christ, regularly exercised in his Church, under pretence of the defence of their Liberty, are no true friends to true Liberty. VVe must also improve and exercise our Liberty in way of Love, Peace, Union, and Communion, unto mutual edification and comfort: By love serving one another, Gal. 5.3. O this is the onely sweet and comfortable life of Chri­stian Liberty. It is a very sinful, shameful abuse of Christian Liberty, to make it an occasion to the flesh, to make it subservient to Libertinism, to Licentiousness, to carnal Reason and Policy, to worldly Designs and Ends, to the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of men, in fomenting Divisions & Contentions, and of making it a cloak of maliciousness, 1 Pet. 2.16 — Surely it is a great part of our work of Reformation, to Reform these Abuses of our Christian Liberty. VVe are People highly Priviledged with Christian Liberty, and advantaged to the exerc [...]se of it▪ O that we bet­ter understood it, and improved it! Let us alwayes remember to keep our Liberty wholly subservi [...]nt unto our Religion, and not set up Li­berty above Religion; if so, we shall lose both our Religion and our Liberty together.

6 Labour unto the promotion and progress of the work of Reformation, by recovery of your first Love, Peace and Vnion. O the loss of our first Love, Peace and Union, hath hitherto been an irreparable loss, an in­curable [Page 27] wound, concerning which we may take up our Lamentation, and say, Jer. 8.20, 21, 22. The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not healed: for the hurt of my people, I am hurt, I am black: astonishment hath taken hold upon me. Is there no Balm in Gilead? is there no Physician there? why then is not the hurt of the daughter of my people recovered? O are our Divisions become judicial, and so incurable? If so, our state is truly lamentable, as Jer. 16.5. Thus saith the Lord, Enter not into the house of mourning, neither go to lament, nor bemoan them; for I have taken away my peace from this people, saith the Lord, even loving kindness and mercies. If it should be so, well might the hearts and hopes of all our faithful Leaders fail, whose labours have hither unto much failed. Surely then the recovery of our first Love, Peace and Union, is a chief part of the work of Reformation, and will be found a very hard and difficult part of the work. In order hereunto,

1. We must remember from whence we are fallen. O let the remem­brance of the sweetness and blessedness of our first Love, Peace and U­nion, convince and humble us under the sin of our Envyings, Strifes, Debates, Divisions, Contentions and Emulations, &c. It was the sad state of the Church of Corinth, that although they were lamentably distressed and distr [...]cted with Divisions, yet they were not sensible of the sin of them, but were puffed up, and did glory one against another. O that it were nothing so with us! truly, so long as it is so, there will be no hope of healing. O that we were convinced of the sin of our Divi­sion, and the multitude of sins that are begotten by it, that we might mourn penitentially, and bemoan our selves before God with broken­ness of heart, and earnestly beseech him to pardon, and to purge away all that sin, and to grant us reforming grace. Truly, untill we are thus convinced and humbled, there will be no Reformation.

2. We must labour to recover our first Spirit of Love, Peace and U [...]ion; pray earnestly unto God, to pour his Spirit upon us, a Spirit of Love, to pour out abundance of the grace of Love; to create Love, Peace and Union for us; and to take away the Spirit of Division, which we are so deeply corrupted withall.

3. We must labour to recover our first New-England Interest; that is, that Interest upon wh [...]ch this People, and these Churches were first founded, as to their Religious Consti [...]ution, which is God and Religion: thi [...] is the onely uniting Interest, our very hearts and Souls will cleave and unite most intirely, in Love, with Peace and Union, in our God and ou [...] Religion; this Interest will make a people of one heart, and of one Soul, J [...]r. 32.39. — They shall be my people, and I will be their God, and [Page 28] I will give them one heart and one way, to fear me. Observe, when a people do cleave close to God and his Covenant, and so unto Religion, they have one heart and one way, that is, sweet and perfect Unity and Amity. O this is our great mischief and misery▪ and the very original of our def [...]ction, that we have much forsaken our proper New-England Inte­rest; we have committed these two great evils, Jer. 2.13. Forsaken our God, and hewn out Cisterns: We have been changing of our main Fun­damental Interest; we have been deserting our own Religious Inter [...]st, & espousing another, ( viz.) a Worldly Interest; we are turning from God, after the World; the World is becoming the main Interest of N. E. and we are becoming a worldly people, a people of a worldly Spirit, Principles & Practises. I do not mean onely, nor so much, in seeking and prosecuting the things of the World, (although that be enough to denominate us notoriously Worldly) but our turning our very Religion it self into a Worldly Interest, by making of it the subject of Carnal Confidences, resting, trusting, and boasting in it, and also by making of it the sub­ject of Carnal Contentions, and so se [...]ting Religion ag [...]inst it s [...]l [...], and the P [...]ofessors of it one against another, and so making of it subservient unto worldly designs, yea unto worldly lusts; and thereby m [...]ki [...]g it, in our Profession and Practise of it, a meer Worldly Religion; ye [...], too many do too much make their professed Confidence in God himself, a worldly Interest & subservient to their worldly lusts, as they M [...]c. 3 11. — Yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord in the mi [...]st of us? none evil can come unto us. When a worldly Spirit, worldly Prin­ciples, worldly Wisdome and Counsels, do sway and preponderate in all matters, both Civil and Religious, then a people are fully and through­ly setled upon a Worldly Interest, and are truly become a Worldly peo­ple. And then comes all kinde of Dissentions, Contentions, Emulations, Strifes, D [...]bate, &c. for the World is alwayes a dividing Interest, and all our Divisions are carnal and worldly, 1 Cor. 3.3. Jam. 4.3— Whatever pretences of a Religious Zeal, the Fomentors of Division may make, it is a Worldly Spi [...]it that foments all Divisions; and it is utterly impossi­ble, that ever a worldly spirited people should unite upon sure grounds of U [...]ion, or that any people should ever unite at all in a worldly Inte­rest. And therefore if we can relinquish our worldly Interest, an [...] re­trive our own onely true and proper Interest, which is our God and Re­ligion, set and settle our hearts again upon God and Rel [...]gion, this would heal all our D [...]visions, and reform all. As a change of Interest hath been the great Cause of our general defection; so a change of Interest agai [...], would consummate our Reformation. It is the Prescription which God [Page 29] gives unto that Backsliding people for their recovery, Hos. 14.2, 3. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord, and say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously, &c. Asshur shall not save us, we will not ride upon horses, neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.

I shall take leave (now in the Conclusion) to propose this general Exhortation unto Reformation, more particularly, unto those who are especially concerned as Reformers.

I. I crave leave to Apply my self (yet with humility and sincerity (as it becometh me, speaking in the Name and fear of God) unto Those, who are, or who shall be Established, or Re-established (this day) in Place of Rule and Government among us, as our Magistracy. Much Honoured, that which I have humbly to offer unto You in the Name of the Lord, and on the behalf of this People, it is this plain (yet great word) of Exhortation: Whereby I do most humbly beseech you, to labour in your Place, by the utmost and most faithful improvement of your Power, Interest, Wisdome, Grace, and Spirit of Government wh [...]ch you have received from the Lord, to promote this great Work of Reformation, in all the Parts, and in all the Degrees of it. This Go­vernment, and so this Magistracy, it was through the most wise and merciful Providence of God, constituted unto a more direct subservi­ency unto the Work of Reformation, as the great and main design of it, in the intentions both of God, and of all his faithful People. There­fore God Spirited our first Magistracy unto this Work of Reformation, and prospered that glorious Work unto a very happy progress, under their Civil Conduct of this Religious and Reforming people. And now the Place, the Power, the whole Betrustment of this Reforming Magi­stracy, it is by our Annual Election, and so by a Providential Succession, devolving upon You, and remaineth vested in You. Therefore our eyes, our hearts, our hopes, are (under God, and as to men) much upon You as our Reformers. It is our great hope, and will be our great re­joicing, to see the Plummet still in the hand of Zerubbabel, with those Seven; to see a powerful and prosperous progress of the Work of Re­formation, under your hand, labouring therein with a full concurrence of Divine Assistance. True it is, there are great Mountains standing before you; but this is the Word of the Lord unto you, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit: if the Lord Spirit you unto the Work, they shall become a Plain; and although the work be much declined, it shall be again revived, and the Topstone thereof shall be brought forth with Shoutings and Acclamations of Grace, unto the glory of God. It [Page 30] hath been a g [...]eat (if not the greatest) Honour, which God hath pu [...] upon Civil Magistracy, and that which addeth true Glory unto its G [...]eatness, That he hath made Civil Magistrates, Reformers. Seldome hath there been any great Work of Reformation wrought, either in the Church of old, or in the succeeding Ages of it, but God hath made Kings, Princes, and Civil Magistrates, his Ministers in it. And alwayes, in the most flourishing state of the Kingdome of Christ, he hath caused the Mountains to bring peace, and the little hills righteousness. The Church on earth will be in the height and top of its prosperity, when the Moun­tain of the Lords House shall be exalted in the tops of the Mountains; when Kings shall be her Nursing-fathers, and Queens her Nursing-mothers. You have the most encouraging Examples of the most Illustrious Re­formers before you: You know this people, their present spi [...]it, state and way; You have been with us at Massah, at Meribah, and at Kibroth­hattaavah, where we have both temp [...]ed God, and tryed you. You m [...]y well say of us, as Moses did of them, I know thy rebellion, and thy st [...]ff neck; and so you may by a solemn Contestation, call Heaven and Earth to record against us, as he did sometime against them. You are to labour with a very immorigerous, rebellious, backsliding generation, under an extraordinary juncture of Provocations and Temptations, D [...]fficulties and Dangers. O so much the more I am imboldened in the Name of the Lord, with an humble importunity, to beseech your Care, Constancy, Courage and Faithfulness in this your great Duty, lest the Ruine of this Self-destroying people, should be found under your hand. It will be your Glory, not onely to be Reformers, but Repairers and Restorers, to Repair the Breach, and to raise up Foundations for many Ge­nerations. Such as You, are in Scripture called not onely Gods, but Sa­viours; and Saviours, raised up upon Mount Sion: we style you so with Modesty and Sobriety, in Scripture phrase and sense, as still remembring that you must die like men. But hereby we understand that you are con­ce [...]ned in & betrusted with somewhat that is Sacred, you cannot approve your selves to be Gods more, then by the Patronage of Religion; you can­not approve your selves to be Saviours more, then by being Reformers, Reformation will be our Salvation. We are to chuse you t [...]is day for God; and so doing, we may hope that God will in mercy chuse you for us You being so Chosen, both by God, and his people▪ are under a double, and so indispensible Obliga [...]ion, even by your [...]ction, to be for God, and for his people; that is, for the promotion and preserva­tion of that which is the main Interest of God and his people here, which is Religion. You are to Rule not onely over Men, but Christians; not [Page 31] onely over People, but the People of God: therefore you are to Rule, as in the fear of God, so in a more peculiar manner from God, and for God, that God may Rule by you, that you may be the Ministers of God for our good. God ha [...]h set you as our Hedge, and as our Wall, whereby he hath enclosed this his Vineyard, and all his precious and pleasant things with us; he hath set you as a part of the Defence upon the Glory, God doth therefore expect, that you should fully Assert and Exert all that Power which he hath committed to you, to be improved for the publick Weal of his people, especially in and about matters of Religion, which is the greatest concernment of our publick Weal. Courage and Faith­fulness therein, is the peculiar Excellency of a Christian Magistracy, the regular exerc [...]se thereof, will be the Strength and Glory of your Go­vernment, and the Stability and Prosperity of this people under it. It is your Concernment to uphold this Government, in the full and whole interest and i [...]fluence of it, unto all the Ends of it; especially this great and m [...]in End of it, the Preservation and Propagation of Religion. It will be your Commenda [...]ion, wh [...]ch was holy Davids, as he was eminently a Type of Chri [...]t in the Work of Reformation, that the Zeal of Gods house had consumed him. The hearts of the sober, faithful, peaceable, and religious people of the Land, are towards the Governours of Israel, who offer themselves willingly to the help of the Lord in the Work of R [...]forma­tion, in this time of general defection. And surely, this is the greatest Tru [...]t that we repose in you, and therefore the highest hope, expectation, confidence and dependance that we place upon you, as our Rulers, Go­vernours, Leaders, Publick Benefactors and Fathers, That you wi [...]l by the u [...]most improvement of your Power and Interest, advance and esta­blish the true, pure▪ and holy Worship of God, (and so far as i [...]con­cerneth you) not suffer these Churches, no not this People, to be cor­rup [...]ed, no not this Land, to be po [...]luted and defiled with Will-worship. A Religious Reforming Magistracy, hath hither unto been our Crowning Mercy: if God set You over us in mercy, he will make you such a Ma­gistracy. And therefore ou [...] Prayers for you shall ever be, That he that is the Light of Israel, wi [...]l be a Light unto you, that you may be as the Light of Israel unto us. And that you may be abundantly i [...]fluenced with a Spirit of Government, from Him whose all Government is▪ that you may receive a large portion of that Spirit, which resteth upon Him, even a Spir [...]t of Wisdome and Vnderstanding, a Spirit of Counsel and of Mi [...]ht, a Spirit of Knowledge, and of the fear of the Lord; that you may be of a quick understanding in his fear: And that in your measure also, Righteousness may be the girdle of your loins, and Faithfulness the [Page 32] girdle of your reins, that so you may feed and lead this people, both in the skilfulness of your hand, and the integrity of your hearts. We also shall pray, That you may be kept, and carried above all the Temptations and Provocations of our Murmurings, Dissentions, and Rebellions; that God may never be angry with you for our sakes, and that it may ne­ver go ill with you for our sakes: as also above all your own frailties and infirmities; that God may never be provoked by our sins, to suffer you to fall, as once he did holy David, that he might punish Israel. We wish you all the blessings which those who are just, ruling in the fear of God, may expect; that we might behold you as the Light of the Morning, when the Sun riseth, a Morning without Clouds; that the Anniversary Revolution of this Government by our Annuall Election, may be unto us as the rising Sun, by which we may receive Influences of Divine Bles­sing, which may cause us to grow up as the tender grass, by the clear shi­ning after rain; that in your dayes the righteous may flourish, and abun­dance of peace; that we may enjoy Prosperity and Tranquility under this Magistracy, and that there may be a peaceful and prosperous Succes­sion of it from Generation to Generation; that God continuing unto us our Judges as at the first, and our Counsellers as at the beginning, we may remain to be a City of Righteousness, and a faithful City.

II. I shall take leave to propose this Exhortation unto the Ministry of these Churches, nextly concerned, as Publick Reformers, in the Work of Reformation. It is proposed in the Text, directly, To the Angel of the Church of Ephesus. The Angels of the Churches are particularly directed unto, and charged with this Work, in the several Churches. The first Ministry of these Churches, it was eminently a R [...]forming Ministry, extraordinarily qualified unto, and improved in, the Work of Reformation: God made them great Reformers, and wrought a great Work of Reformation by them; and they lived faithfully labouring in that Wo [...]k unto the death, though not without some discouragement, and some diminution of their joy and comfor [...], from a prae-apprehen­sion, yea from some present appearance of the sad signs of the defection of these Churches, before their departure. That Ministry, those Mi­nisters, they are generally departed; (some few (here and there one, onely) of that Ancient Old England-Ministry, remaining with us, as the Crown and Ornament of our New-England-Presbytery.) And truly, the remembrance of the departure of that Ministry, with the signal Circumstances, and sad Consequences thereof, may justly mo [...]e lamen­tation; they being divers of them carried away (as it were) in Chariots of fire: I mean▪ by an Anticipation of their translation, in the ordinary [Page 33] course of Nature, and when in the strength and travail of their Ministe­rial Labours, for these Churches, and with this Generation; bearing a full clear Testimony unto the great duties, and against the great sins of the Times, and standing in the Gap before God, to turn away impend­ing Judgements. Their Praise is yet fresh and flourishing in these Chur­ches, being legible in living Epistles of Commendation, written not with Ink, but by the Spirit of the living God. They have a living Memory, and a lasting Monument in every godly heart, who hath experienced the con­verting, quickning, comforting presence and power of the Spirit in their Ministration. They are departed, and we have wept over their faces with that Lamentation, My father, my father, the Chariots of Isra­el, and the Horsmen thereof. The Burthen of the Work of the Ministry, and so of this great Work of Reformation in these Churches, it now resteth upon you, who are the present standing Ministry, this New-England Ministry, which is Coaevall and Coaetaneous with this New-England Generation; Amongst whom, I am not worthy to be mention­ed as one (though with the utmost expression of diminution, as less then the least of those whom God hath called forth to take a part of this Mini [...]try) and therefore most unmeet and unworthy thus to speak unto you: yet I am bold to beseech you to bear this Exhortation from the Lord Jesus Chr [...]st▪ in whose Name I speak, and say, O Labour to be a R [...]forming Ministry. Although there hath been a change of Ministers in mo [...]t of the Churches, yet we hope there is not a change of the Mi­ni [...]try, but that the same Ministry is still remaining; that is, a Ministry of the same Constitution, Spirit, Principles, Minde, Judgement and Pra­ctise, in all things pertaining to the Work of the Ministry in these Chur­ches; a Ministry, which hath received not onely the Mantle, but a por­tion of the Spirit of Elijah. And therefore, you are engaged to under­take, to uphold, and to carry on the same Work of Reformation, in all the parts of it, and to labour unto the progress of it, in the Spirit and Power of it, so far as you are concerned, respecting either Doctrine, Profession or Practise. More especially, God expecteth that you should promote the Work of Reformation, in your several Churches and Con­gregations, by the regular and thorough exercise of the Power of Christ (committed unto you) in the Administration of Doctrine and Worship, which is the great Trust and Charge committed unto you to keep, 1 Tim. 6 20. This is the Rod of his strength out of Zion, whereby his people are made a willing people in the day of his power, Psal. 110.2, 3. Exalt Christ, by the due exercise of his Power in his Name, that Christ may reign Ministerially in these Churches. The Rule and Government [Page 34] of Christ powerfully Administred, would soon Reform all. O that Di­scipline might be restored, unto the full and effectual exercise of it, in the Spirit and Power of it, unto all the saving Ends of it, in these Chur­ches! it would work a great Reformation. And O that this poor Ge­neration, which is committed Chiefly to the Charge of this Ministry, may be generally cared for in all the Churches. They are the Genera­tion, which you are called to labour with and for, amongst whom you hope to have the fruit of your Labours in the Work of the Ministry, and whom you are to stand in Judgement with, and to give an account of, in the day of Account. O what Account will be given of them, if many, or the generality of them, should perish, under the neglect of the due exercise of the Ministerial Power of Christ towards them, in any of the Churches? Most of all the Work of Reformation, depend­eth upon the faithful and successful Labours of this Ministry, in the work of Conversion; the travail of your Souls in that work, your travailing wi [...]h Souls in that work of Conversion. Here lyes the stress, and the life and spirit of the Work of Reformation; without which, all Ess [...]yes, Endeavours, and Labour therein, and thereunto, will be ut­terly vain and void. If God make this Ministry a Converting Ministry; the Work of Reformation will be again revived; but if God suffer it to be a Judicial Ministry, a Ministry sent in Judgement, to make the heart of this people fat— then there will be no hope, the Generation will grow sick at heart, under Spiritual Plagues and Judgements, under a sa­vour of death, by this Ministry, and so die in their sins. A Judicial Mi­nistry hath alwayes been the fatall Cause of the finall Ruine of such a peo­ple, as Isa. 6.10. Mat. 13.13, 14. Joh. 12.40. Rom. 9.32. And therefore, how are all such, who have the Charge of Souls in such a dangerous time, amongst a declining people, concerned to Labour, to Pray, to Preach, to be instant in season, out of season, in private, in publick, to spend their Souls, to bend the strength of their Ministerial Labours, un­to the Conversion of Souls? How did the Prophets of old labour, in like case, with a declining people, and dolefully lament the loss of their labour; so Isaiah, Isa 49.4. Jeremiah, Jer. 6.10. yea, our Lord Jesus Christ himself, Mat. 23.37. O Jerusalem, — how often would I have gathered thy Chil­dren— Truly, it is a most doleful discouragement to the present Mini­stry, in many Congregations, to see so many Souls fatting, hearts hard­ning, immortal Souls dying and perishing under their hand, Care and Charge; but yet they must labour, and Agonize in Prayer unto God, for a dispensation of Converting grace by their Ministry, that the Work of Conversion, and so the Work of Reformation, may be revived: for [Page 35] if not, it is much to be feared, that the Sun will quickly go down over the Prophets: I allude unto Mic. 3.6.— I mean, that our day of grace will expire, and the Sun set upon these Churches, by the departure of the Mi­nistry, and so our house be left unto us desolate, as Mat. 23.38, 39. The Prosperity of these Churches, dependeth much upon the success of the Labours of this present Ministry: and therefore, the hopes, desires, and prayers of all the faithful people of God in these Churches are, That you may alwayes remain as Stars in the right hand of Jesus Christ, fixed in your Orb, full of Light, Regular in all your Motions, Powerfull in all your Influences, shining in all your Appearances, with the Splendor and Lustre of his Spirit and Grace, in whose hand you are: And that there may be no such Wandering Stars, spoken of Jude v. 13. whose Er­ratick Motions should disturb the Coelestial Order and Harmony of our Ecclesiastical Heaven.

III. I propose this Exhortation also unto All the People of the Land, who a [...]e present; and O that whole New-England might be moved with this word of Exhortation, — Repent, and do the first works. O that the heart of this people might be moved, as the heart of one man, unto the Work of Reformation! It is a general Work, our defection it is ge­neral, and therefore our Reformation it must be also general. Of old, the Work of Reformation it was alwayes wrought by all the people, as you may reade 2 Kings 23.3. 2 Chron. 29.36. & 34.30. the Text saith there, All, small and great: So Ezra 109. Neh. 8.1. — All the the people as one man; every one that is able to do any thing, must bear his part in the Work of Reformation. Every one hath a particular work of Reformation, in and for himself, to Reform himself, his own heart, and his own life; if every one could Re [...]orm one, it would be a great and general Reformation. Every one, that hath a Soul to save, or hath any care of his Salvation, is concerned in this Work of Reforma­tion, of what degree, rank or order whatsoever; every one must la­bour, in his own person, in his proper place, by the utmost improve­ment of his power, interest and influence, to help forward the work; every one must set his hand and heart unto the Work of Reformation, in Families, Towns, Churches, throughout the Country. The Work of Reformation, it must run through all our hearts and wayes, in every Station and Relation, in every Calling and Imployment, through all mat­ters both Civil and Religious, in all our converse with God and man. There is nor one here present in the Congregation, but is concerned in this Work of Reformation.

1. Let every one be admonished and warned to take heed of hindering the [Page 36] Work of Reformation. They are the most dangerous and desperate Ene­mies unto New-England, and unto these Churches, who do hinder Re­fo [...]ma [...]ion; so do all Profane persons, by their sins of Profaneness, whose work it is more and more to corrupt the Generation, and to fill, and pollute the Land wi [...]h their Abominations. So also do all Worldly and Self-seeking persons, by sinking the Interest of Religion, and raising a Worldly Interest, and so building up their own Self-interests upon the ruines of the Publick. So also do all Factious, Seditious, and Conten­tious persons, who make it their design and work to foment Divisions, and to uphold dividing Parties and Interests, unto the shaking of very Foundations. So also do all corrupt Worshippers, and corrupters of the Worship of God. In a word, so do all Carnal, Formal, Hypocritical Pro­fessors. And so do all the Capital leading sinners of the Times, and of the Generation. These are all publick Enemies unto these Churches— more dangerous and destructive Enemies unto this great Work of the Lord, then Sanballat and Tobiah, and the rest of old, were unto the Building of the City or the Temple. Wo to those by whom Offences come, who are Leaders in our great and general Defection, and hinderers of the Work of Reformation. As for such who turn aside unto their crooked wayes, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel, Psal. 125.5.

2. Let all the Friends, Lovers, Well-wishers, Well-willers unto the Pub­lick Good and Prosperity of these Churches, up and be doing in the Work of Reformation. You who are of the passing generation, of the first undertakers of this Work of Reformation, surviving, and who have seen with your eyes, and told us, what works God did in your dayes, as Psal. 44.1. who have therefore yet a living remembrance of the gracious Wayes, and glorious Works of God to his people, in the first beginnings, and pro­sperous progress of the Work of Reformation; and so of the House of God, of the Churches here in their first glory, Hag. 2.3. You have also seen and observed, the gradual declension and defection of these Chur­ches; and therefore you cannot chuse but be most sadly and sorrow­fully sensible of our present necessity of Reformation. O then be moved to do what in you lyeth, by your Faith, Prayer, Life and Example, to revive the Work of Reformation again before you die. You also who are the present standing Generation, the next and immediate Successors unto those first Reformers, who have been actually betrusted with Church-Order, Ordinances, and Administrations, with the whole Cause of God, Kingdome of Christ, and Interest of Religion, and so with this great and glorious Work of Reformation, and who are likely to be found [Page 37] most guilty of this general defection, and have too much already en­dangered the loss of all; O be you moved to stand up strongly unto the work under that Charge, and all those solemn Obligations and Engage­ments which God hath laid upon you, the weight and burthen of the Work lyeth upon you: we have been raised up in the stead of our Fathers, as Josh. 5.7. to carry on this Work. And truly, if we should desert, or be slight and negligent therein, it will soon fall to the ground, and sink past recovery; and we shall thereby, at once, cut off the hope of our Fa­thers, and lay the Foundation of the Ruine of Succeeding Generations, utterly undo all Posterity. O let us therefore make it our Prayer, which is in 1 Kings 8.57, 58. The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our Fathers; let him not leave us, nor forsake us, that he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in his wayes, &c. And you who are of the Rising Ge­neration, Adult Youth, and Young men, You are many of you, if not most of you a Third Generation, from those whom God first brought out into this Wilderness; You are they who are likely to out-live Joshua, and all the Elders of Israel that out-lived Joshua— and all that Genera­tion, as it is said of them, Judg. 2.7, 8, 9. You cannot (many of you) re­member the works which God wrought for your forefathers— You have never seen these Churches in their first Beauty and Glory, nor the Wor­ship and Ordinances of God in their first Spiritual Power and Purity: It hath been, so far, your unhappiness, that you have been brought forth, and lived under the decaying state of these Churches, and of Re­ligion, and therefore are like to grow up under the prevailing power of a Spirit of Apostacy. And alas! upon you is likely to fall all the Ca­lamity and Misery of this Apostacy which is begun, you will see and feel the sad and lamentable Effects of it. O therefore that Youth and Young persons, could lay this Consideration unto their hearts; and be moved also, to engage in this Work of Reformation, before it be too late, by labouring unto a sound Conversion, and a religious Conversation, in the dayes of their Youth. O that All thus concerned would Vp and be doing! — True it is, there are many great discouragements, so that the hearts of those who are most, and best disposed unto the Work, are ready to fail; especially considering, that all means of Reformation have hitherunto failed, nothing hath hitherunto done us any good: So that God himself may justly complain of us, as he did of that people, Hos. 6.4. O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? &c. Jer. 6.29. — the bellows are burnt— Truly Reformation, it is likely to prove a very hard and heavy Work, yet we must never despair of Reformation, as that people seemed to do, Ezek. 33.10. If our transgressions and our iniquities be upon us, and [Page 38] we pine away in them, how then should we live? (q. d.) You call us to Re­pentance, and Reformation, and denounce Wrath and Judgement against us, if we do not do it; but alas, to what purpose? for God is resolved to s [...]ffer us to pine and die away in our sins: And therefore God doth instantly give them an encouraging call to Repentance and Reformation, Ver. 11. Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn— and live: Turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die, O house of Israel? Surely, God is yet calling of us unto Reformation, and wai [...]ing upon us for Reformation. It is yet a Probation-time with us, when in we are standing before God upon our Tryal; God hath repented once more of the evil, as Amos 7.3. the un­profitable Tree hath one year more to stand in the Vineyard, Luk. 13.8. Yet truly, now God seemeth to be limitting of us to a certain day, Psal. 95.7— To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. O let us take heed then unto this day, this limited day, which will p [...]t a period unto Gods patience and long-suffering, lest God swear suddenly, and ir­revocably, in his wrath, against us: if once our day be past, it will be indeed too late; witness our Saviours mournful, doleful Lamentation, which he wept out over Jerusalem, Luke 19.42. If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things of thy peace; but now they are hid­den from thine eyes. And why? see ver. 44. Because thou knowest not the time of thy visitation; therefore I say now, now, it is high time to re­form. It is pressed as a present, as an instant duty, Z [...]ph. 2.2 3. Before— before— before— before; that is, in all haste, speedily. H [...]s. 10.12. It is time to seek the Lord; (that is) it is high time, more then time, the one­ly time; now if ever, now or never. I do now re-inforce the Exhor­tation, at least by way of allusion to that in Hag. 2.4. Yet now be strong, O Z [...]rubbabel, and be strong, O Joshua, the son of J [...]sedech the high Priest, and be strong all ye people of the Land, saith the Lord, and work, for I am with you, saith the Lord of Hosts, according to the word that I Cove­nanted with you, when you came out of Egypt, so my Spirit remaineth a­mong you, fear ye not. So let Magistracy, Ministry and People be strength­ned, and encouraged to this Work, believing and hoping that Gods Spi­rit remaineth among us, according to the Covenant which he made with his people, when he brought them forth first into this Wilderness, Now we must see to the Work,

1. With one heart. No hope of Reformation without Vnion. Division hath b [...]en one great cause of our defection, and will be a total obstru­ction unto Reformation, if it continue; we must unite our hearts, our hands, our strength. O if ever we would unite, let it be in, and unto the Work of Reformation.

[Page 39]2. Set unto it with all your hearts, and with all your souls. Our very hearts and souls must be engaged unto it, and in it, we must set to it in good earnest, as unto a work that must be done; we are now brought unto this Dilemma, either a timely, speedy, thorough Reformation, or else there will be a general and total defection; either, Repent, and do the first works, or otherwise I will come unto thee quickly, and remove thy Candle­stick out of its place, except thou repent, is the voice of Christ unto these Churches. O that we understood, and seriously and solemnly consi­dered, that we are a lost and undone people without Reformation; that we are a helpless, hopeless people without Reformation; that nothing will recover us from our defection, and prevent our destruction by the execution of impending Judgements, but onely Reformation. O then, we should stand trembling before God, under the apprehension of the instant, urgent necessity of Reformation, as Ezra 10.9. And all the peo­ple sate in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter— ver. 12. Then all the Congregation answered, and said, with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do. Observe, they cried out, passionately, affectionately, So must we do; (q. d.) we are a lost, undone people, there is no hope, no help for us without Reformation: and then they set to the Work in good earnest. O that we could make Reformation our main work and business, without delay.

3. We must set to it with a right and full understanding of the whole work of Reformation, in the parts and progress of it. We have been ready to re­turn (by way of retortion) unto this great Exhortation, as that people, Mal. 3.7. Even from the dayes of your fathers, ye are gone away from mine Ordinances, and have not kept them: Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord: but ye said, Wherein shall we return? So 8, 1 [...]. Though they were guilty of a very great and general defection, yet they understood not the Work of Reformation. Truly so it is our great unhappiness, that we do no better know wherein the Work of Reforma­tion consisteth; yea, that some of the great things of our peace do seem to be even Judicially, or in Judgement, hidden from our eyes, Luk. 19.42. Deut. 29.4. Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day: and that was the reason that their defection was continued. Psal. 95.10. Fourty years long was I grieved with this Generation, and said, It is a people that do erre in their heart, and they have not known wy wayes: Vnto whom I sware, &c. They were incurable in their defection, because they understood not the Work of Reformation. It is observable, in all these seven Epistles unto the Churches, Christ calls for an understanding attention, Let him that [Page 40] hath an ear to hear, hear, &c. There is much wisdome an [...] prudence re­quisite unto the Work of Reformation: Hos. 14.9. Who is wise, he shall understand these things; prudent, he shall know them? for the wayes of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them— O! a want of this wis­dome and prudence, is one great hinderance: we do not, we will not understand the way and work of Reformation.

4. We must set unto the Work in a way of full and sincere subjection unto Order, and carry on the Work according to Rules of Order. Breach of Order, neglect of Order, Non subjection unto Order, Disorder, and Confusion, it hath been one great Cause, yea it is a great part of our de­fection; and if ever we do hope, or intend to make thorough work in Reformation, we must recover Order, the Beauty, the Harmony, the Peace and Tranquility, the Regularity, the Purity and Simplicity, the Power and Efficacy, Life and Spirit of Order, Gospel-order, the Order which Christ hath set and appointed in his Church. Although we may have never so good dispositions, intentions, resolutions, and desires unto the Work of Reformation, yet if we pursue it not in due Order, it will all come to nothing, 1 Chron. 15.13— because we sought him not in the due Or­der— Surely, there is no case so difficult among us, but there is a regu­lar and easie way to an issue, if we will acknowledge, and apply, and follow up Rules of Order, in the due improvement of them; if we would be set down by Order, be ruled and governed by Order: but if we will slight, neglect, reject, contemn, and despise Order, we can ex­pect nothing but Disorder and Confusion, and shall be in great danger thereby to run and rush desperately into our own ruine. It was the great Expedient which the Apostle proposeth, for the Reformation of that distracted Church of Corinth, Let all things be done decently, and in order, 1 Cor. 14.33, 40. So 1 Cor. 11.34.

5. We must set our selves to the work with a fervent love unto, and zeal for the work it self. The Cause of God, the Kingdome of Christ, the Prosperity of these Churches, so much concerned in it; this is the onely true Principle and Spirit of Reformation. O that our first New-England Zeal and Love might be revived and raised, under a full, clear discovery of the Spiritual Beauty and Glory of that Work, and of that Cause, that we may labour in it, in the heat, height, and strength of that Zeal and Love. This will indeed Spirit the Work, and Spirit us un­to it. It is a sign, that there is a glorious work of Reformation near, when Gods people do love the stones, and favo [...] the dust of Zion, Psal. 102.14.

6. We must labour in it, under a sense of our own utter insufficiency to [Page 41] Reform, renouncing all our own carnal Confidences, and disclaiming our own wisdomes and wills, wherein we have too long laboured in vain; trust our own hearts no further, no longer, which have so much, & so often de­ceived us, but bemoan our selves before God, as a hopeless and helpless people, as Ephraim did, Jer. 31.18. and the Church, Jer. 3.22, 23 — Behold we come unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God. Truly, in vain is salvation hoped for, from the hills, or from the multitude of mountains, —for shame hath devoured the labour [...] of our hands from our youth— we lie dwon in our shame, and confusion covereth us—then God will work for us, Deut. 32.36. For the Lord shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up or left. So Jer. 30.15, 17. Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable— for I will restore health unto thee, I will heal thee of thy wounds— We must therefore make our Prayer to God, Turn thou us, and we shall be turned, Jer. 31.18. Heal thou us, and we shall be healed, Jer. 17.14.

7, We must labour in this Work by Faith. Those who will be (at least) Publick Reformers, must have a mighty power of Faith, 2 Chron. 15.8. He took courage, and put away the abominable Idols. There must be the confidence of Faith. Isa. 30 15. In returning and in rest shall ye be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be your strength. There must be the de­pendance of Faith, Hos. 6.1, 2, 3. Come, let us return to the Lord— he will heal us— he will binde us up— he will revive us— he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. There must be the hope and expectation of Faith, Isa. 26.8. — in the way of thy judgements have we waited for thee— ver. 12. Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us, for thou also hast wrought all our works in us. There must be the strong and powerful intercessions of Faith, Isa. 62.6, 7. He hath set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem— Ye that make mention of the Name of the Lord, give him no rest untill he establish, and make Jerusalem the praise of the whole earth. There must be the wrestlings of Faith, whereby we may take hold upon God, and not [...]et him go, but hold him by Faith, as a God in Covenant with us, as a God All sufficient unto us, as a God who hath engaged himself unto us by his Covenant, and by all his Promises, to pardon us, to purge us, to convert us, to heal us. Thus Moses, Exod. 32.11, 13, 32. Thus also the Church, Isa. 63.16. Doubtless thou art our Father, &c. Isa. 64.8, 9. O now, if ever, is the time for all those who have Faith, to improve their Faith unto the utmost, for the publick good of this poor people, and the prosperity of these Churches. Faith will do much in this great work, 2 Chron. 20.20. — hear me, O Judah, and all ye inhabitants of [Page 42] Jerusalem, believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his Prophet [...] ▪ [...] shall ye prosper.

And now, O that we understood, that it is God himself, our Fathers God, yea God even our own God, our good, gracious, merciful, faithful, and All-sufficient God, that God who hath nourished us, and b [...]ought us up as Children; O it is he that is now testifying unto us, and plead­ing with us, to return unto him by Repentance and Reforma [...]ion▪ (to speak with reverence of God, after the manner of men.) God [...] com­passions are moving, his bowels are sounding, his repen [...]ings are [...]ind [...]ing, his heart is turning within him, towards New-Engl [...]nd ▪ towards this poor Generation; though he hath many times, and many wayes spoken against us, yet he doth earnestly remember us still, he remembreth the kindness of our youth— when New-England was Holiness to the Lord, Jer. 2.2, 3. Thus saith the Lord, I remember thee, (or as in the Margin) For thy sake I remember; though we have forgotten that fi [...]st love and kindness unto God, yet for our sakes God doth remember the love and kindness which our Fathers bare unto him; the very remembrance of it doth move him to express some love and kindness unto us their Poste­rity; and the remembrance of it, hath hither unto stayed the hand of his divine Justice: So that he is even ready to say of us, as of them, Hos. 11.8. How shall I give thee up, Ephraim?— Surely God shewe [...]h himself even loth to give us up. And therefore after all our backsl [...]dings, unworthy, sinful, shameful carriages, evil requitals▪ high provocations of him, whereby we have so much grieved and wearied him; yea, not­withstanding he hath been entring into Judgement with us, and depart­ing from us, yet he is after all, now at last, still calling and crying after us, Return, ye back-sliding children, for I am married unto you: Return, O back sliding children, I will heal your back-slidings, Jer. 3.12▪ 22. Yea let me say further, It is our Lord Jesus Christ himself that calls, it is he that stands at the doors of these Churches, and knocks, as Rev. 3.20. that he may return, come in, and replenish these Churches with a fulness of his Presence, by his Spirit and Grace. It is the voice of our Beloved that knocked, saying, Open unto me, my Love, &c. as Cant. 5.4. O it is Christ, who is solliciting for the renewing of our first love unto him as our Beloved; yea, our Beloved is yet putting in of his hand by the hole of th [...] door, (i. e.) letting in such Influences, and leaving such Impressions of his love upon the Souls of his sincere ones, as may move your bowels for him, that you may be throughly awakened to arise, and open unto him▪ and that after he hath waited without, so long untill his head was [...] and his lo [...]ks with the drops of the night. We are now [Page 43] solemnly put to the question, Whether we will yet return to the Lord our God, and whether we will ye [...] open unto our Beloved? [...] then, we have cause most se [...]iously and solemnly to deliberate upon this que­stion, Will we repent, and do our first works, yea or no? Will New-England return and Reform, yea or no? What return shall we make? what a [...]swer shall we give him? what shall we say unto God? thus expostulating in a way of grace and me [...]cy with us. O sh [...]ll we be so desperate, as to reply with them, Jer. 2.25. — but thou saidst, There is no h [...]pe; no, I have loved strangers, and after them I will go. Jer. 18.12. And they said, There is no hope; but we will walk after our own devices, we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart. Is there no hope? are we past hope of Reformation? Surely then, well may God make his Appeal from us, unto the Heaven and Earth, and enter into a Con­troversie with us, as Isa. 1.2. Hear, O Heavens, and give ear, O Earth— Micah 6.3.— Hear, O Mountains, the Lords Controversie: for the Lord hath a Controversie with his people, he will plead with Israel, O my people, what have I done unto thee? wherein have I wearied thee? testifie against me: I brought thee up out of the Land of Egypt, and Redeemed thee out of the house of Bondage: I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. Truly, so may God plead with New-England, O my people, what have I done u [...]to thee? Have I been unfaithful, insufficient, unkinde, un­righ [...]eous, ungracious, unmerciful unto you? Have I ever failed, or frustrated your faith, hope, or expectations? Have I ever left you, or forsaken you, in any time of necessity, extremity, or danger? Have I ever been injurious unto you? ( q. d.) Charging me, charge me if you can, What iniquity have you found in me? Have not I separated, and set apart your Fathers, as a peculiar people to my self? Have not I nourish­ed You, and brought you up as Children, brought you under my Cove­nant, setled you in the possession of my House, Worship and Ordinan­ces, protected you in the enjoyment and improvement of all my pre­cious and pleasant things, carried you as upon Eagles wings, pitied you, pardoned you, spared you, and saved you, and superadded Peace, Plen­ty, and all temporal mercies? O foolish people and unwise, will you thus then requite the Lord your God? Be astonished, O Heavens at this, and be horribly afraid, and be ye very d [...]solate, saith the Lord! O how will New-England be able to stand be [...]ore the Lord, when he shall thus con­tend with us; and that in order unto the vindication of his Justice pro­ceeding unto the execution of his destroying and desolating Judgements, as Psal. 81.12. But my people would not hearken unto my voic [...] ▪ and Israel would have none of me: so I gave them up. O wo to New-England, when God comes to the parting blow with us. But must God and N [...]w-England [Page 44] part thus? O God forbid! Why should we not then now standing in the presence of God, in our hearts, and with our Souls say, Behold we come unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God — and take with us words▪ and say, Take away iniquity, and receive us graciously; for in thee the fatherless finde mercy. O with what open out-stretched Arms of mercy, would God receive and entertain his poor backsliding people, so returning to him? and say, I will heal their backslidings, I will love them freely, for mine anger is turned away from them. O how would God rejoice over poor returning New-England, and rest with Divine delight and Complacency in his love unto us? O what a blessed, glori­ous Change, would such a work of Reformation work in New-England? How would these Churches revive and flourish, and recover their first Beauty and Glory again? be replenished with the gracious Presence of God, and of Christ again; the Worship and Ordinances of God be re­stored unto their Spiritual Power and Purity, and be accompanied in all Administrations, with a plentiful dispensation of Gods Spirit and Grace; Sinners be converted, Saints edified and comforted, in Communion with God, and one with another; the great and crying sins of the Times suppressed, Holiness both in heart and life increased; our Controversies issued, Contentions ended, our Breaches and Losses repaired, our Wounds and Sicknesses healed, Gods Covenant renewed and confirmed with us, and we in all respects made a blessed and happy people, in the full enjoyment and improvement of our most precious and pleasant things! O then New-England would be New-England again. What a rejoicing would this be to the Churches of Christ? and what an advan­tage and advance to the Cause and Kingdome of Christ in the World? O if it please God to give us (in this our most hopeless and helpless estate) the valley of Achor for a door of hope, then shall N. E. sing as in the dayes of her youth, as in the day when God first brought her forth into this Wilder­ness, as Hos. 2.15. Then shall all the lovers of Zion rejoice with us, and for us, with acclamations of Blessing as Jer. 31.23. The Lord bless thee, O habitation of Justice, and mountain of Holiness. It was a great refreshing to this weary and weeping Prophet, to see Visions of peace and prosperity unto the Church, and therefore he adds, v. [...]6. Vpon this I awaked, and beheld, and my sleep was sweet unto me. O it is a sweet and pleasant thing, by faith and hope, to believe and hope for such prosperity unto these Chur­ches. Let it ever be our Prayer, which was the Prayer of the Church, Psa. 90.16, 17. Let thy work appear unto thy Servants, and thy glory unto their Children, and let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and esta­blish thou the work of our hands upon us, yea the work of our hands establish thou it.